Were you, or a loved one, seriously injured in an auto accident involving Nationwide Insurance company? If so, the Chicago car accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC can help you obtain the compensation you are entitled to receive under Illinois law.
- Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company: The Growth of a Giant
- What to Do After a Car Crash
- An Insurance Company Dealing With Car Accident Claims
- Types of Compensation in Car Accidents
- Choosing Your Car Repair Shop After Nationwide Approves Your Claim
- Filing a Personal Injury Claim Against Nationwide Insurance
- The Nationwide Claims Handling Process
- Settling Your Auto Injury Claim With Nationwide Insurance
- How to Safeguard Your Interest When Dealing With Nationwide Insurance Adjusters
- Why It Is Essential to Have Legal Representation in Insurance Claim Settlements
- Nationwide Insurance Auto Accident Claims FAQs
- Hiring a Chicago Nationwide Auto Accident Claims Lawyer
- Resources:
Our attorneys have successfully negotiated bodily injury claims for clients who received serious injuries in auto accidents on Illinois roads and highways. Contact our personal injury attorneys today at (888) 424-5757 for a free legal consultation of your legal options to pursue an insurance claim or lawsuit.
The car accident lawyers at our law firm accept all personal injury claims and wrongful death lawsuits through a contingency fee agreement. Therefore, we will postpone payment of all upfront fees until after we have successfully resolved your case through a negotiated out-of-court settlement or jury trial award.
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company: The Growth of a Giant
Nationwide Insurance is one of the largest insurance companies in the United States, providing vehicle insurance and financial services to individuals and companies across America behind State Farm, GEICO, and Allstate.
The company is worth hundreds of billions of dollars, and they generate more than $7 billion every year in premiums.
Like all other insurance companies, Nationwide uses a helpful business model to minimize its settlement offers to resolve claims filed against the company. Unfortunately, Nationwide insurance is more interested in keeping its shareholders happy than ensuring that victims are adequately compensated for their injuries and damages.
What to Do After a Car Crash
After a car crash, you should contact Nationwide insurance and the police to file a report. It’s advisable to follow your attorney’s advice when dealing with Nationwide adjusters.
An Insurance Company Dealing With Car Accident Claims
Auto accidents are a common occurrence, and if you’re involved in one, you’ll likely have to deal with an insurance company. It’s essential to understand how most insurance companies work so that you can get the best possible outcome for your car accident claim.
When an insurance company receives a claim for an auto accident, the first thing they will do is investigate how the accident occurred.
They will look at the police report, any witness statements, and any other evidence that is available. Based on their investigation, they will determine who was at fault for the car accident.
If the insurance company finds that you were at fault for the car accident, they will likely deny your claim. If they find that the other driver was at fault, they will likely approve your accident claim.
Types of Compensation in Car Accidents
There are many different types of compensation that may be available to you if you have been involved in a car accident.
The type of compensation that you are eligible for will depend on the specific circumstances of your accident and the laws of your state.
An experienced lawyer knows how Nationwide handles claims and can help get you the best possible settlement for your injuries.
However, some of the most common types of compensation that may be available to you include:
- Medical expenses: If you have been injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your medical costs, including both current and future medical expenses and any rehabilitation costs that you may incur.
- Lost wages: When you’re injured in a car accident and cannot work, you might recover compensation for your lost income, including past and future lost wages and any lost earning potential.
- Pain and suffering: Should you sustain injuries in a car accident, you may recover compensation for your pain and suffering that is typically awarded in addition to other types of compensation, such as medical costs and lost allowances.
- Property damage: When your vehicle is damaged in a car accident, you might recover compensation for the repair costs.
- Punitive damages: In some cases, punitive damages may be available. Punitive damages are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter future wrongful conduct.
Choosing Your Car Repair Shop After Nationwide Approves Your Claim
Once your claim with Nationwide is approved, you’ll pay your deductible, and the insurer will reimburse you for the remaining covered repairs.
You can choose the repair shop if you have comprehensive & collision coverage. However, if you only have collision coverage, Nationwide will select a repair facility for you.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim Against Nationwide Insurance
Were you involved in an auto accident and suffered injuries due to a Nationwide policyholder’s negligent actions? If so, you have the legal right to file lawsuits to ensure you recover your financial damages.
The claims process through Nationwide insurance seems straightforward. The insurer states that you can file a Nationwide claim on the company website, mobile app, or telephone at (800) 421-3535.
After the claim has been filed, the insurer will assign a Nationwide claims adjuster to your case, who will handle every aspect of the case, from repairing your vehicle to ensuring you receive medical care if necessary. However, during the initial stage, the claims adjuster or insurance carrier might ask you to make an oral or written statement to provide your side of the story. Do not be fooled.
The insurance carrier might use this information against you to diminish the value of your case or deny your auto claim. Never sign any documentation or provide any testimony to the claims adjuster and insurance company about what happened in the incident unless you have the advice of counsel.
Your experienced personal injury attorney will likely handle every aspect of your claim or wrongful death case and talk directly with the insurance company on your behalf, including providing your testimony when appropriate.
The Nationwide Claims Handling Process
Even though you should not say anything, there are certain things that you must do to help prove your compensation case. Your obligation, or your lawyer’s responsibility to institute legal action, demonstrates how others are responsible for causing your injuries and damages, like the Nationwide policyholder involved in the event.
Typically, the insurance company will want to know specific facts, including:
- The time and date that the incident occurred
- The exact location where the car wreck happened
- Your contact information and the information of others involved in the crash, including witnesses, the policyholder, and passengers
- The extent of car damage you experienced
- The medical professional’s prognosis of your condition, including medical treatments
- The details of your injuries might include photographic evidence
- The list of property or vehicles that were damaged or involved in the event
You must ensure that all the information you provide is accurate before giving it to the Nationwide adjuster or insurance company.
Hopefully, at this point, you have obtained an attorney who can assist you in communicating with the insurance carrier to minimize any scrutinization process they might perform in an attempt to reduce the value of your case.
You should never agree to sign a medical authorization form or employee record form without the advice of your attorney. The insurance company could use your medical documentation, including medical problems you had decades ago, to deny your claim or diminish its value.
They might not use this information until your case goes to trial because the insurance carrier is unwilling to provide an acceptable offer to settle your claim.
Settling Your Auto Injury Claim With Nationwide Insurance
Nearly all insurance claims adjusters working for Nationwide and other insurance companies will move quickly to offer you an injury settlement to close your case. However, during the early stages of your claim process, you likely are unaware of the full scope of your losses, damages, and injuries.
There is no way you could decide how much to accept to settle your case without knowing the extent of your damages. Your attorney can help you determine the magnitude of your expenses to ensure you receive total compensation for:
- Hospitalization costs and medical bills
- Ongoing medical expenses
- Lost earnings due to time away from work because you are injured
- The loss of future earnings because you now suffer a temporary or permanent disability from the accident
- Long-term expenses include additional surgery, medical treatment, hospitalization, rehabilitation, therapy, and other care
- Non-tangible damages include mental anxiety, emotional stress, pain, suffering, and grief
- Funeral bills and medical costs involving wrongful death cases
- Punitive damages if the judge allowed them due to the defendant’s egregious actions that led to your injuries or the death of a loved one
Hiring a Chicago personal injury lawyer to fight on your behalf might be the best legal decision you can make to resolve your case for financial compensation successfully.
A lawyer is not intimidated or overwhelmed by the process and can ensure your legal rights are always protected when filing the claim, providing testimony, speaking to the defendant’s lawyers, negotiating a settlement offer, or presenting evidence at trial when necessary.
While Nationwide markets its products as always being “on your side,” they are not. The insurer is significantly more interested in maintaining their profits, typically at the expense of accident victims injured by Nationwide policyholders.
How to Safeguard Your Interest When Dealing With Nationwide Insurance Adjusters
Have you been involved in an accident? If so, you will likely have to deal with an insurance adjuster. Insurance adjusters are professional claim handlers who work for insurance carriers. They investigate claims and negotiate Nationwide settlements.
While most insurance adjusters are honest and fair, some may try to take advantage of the situation. It is essential to be aware of some adjusters’ tactics to offer you a low-ball settlement.
Here are some tips on how to safeguard your interests when dealing with insurance adjusters:
- Get everything in writing: Let your attorney handle any written agreement with an insurance adjuster to avoid making mistakes.
- Don’t give a recorded statement: You should not give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster before consulting your lawyer. It is usually in your best interests not to do so. Anything you say can be used against you.
- Don’t sign anything without reading it first: Ensure you understand everything you are signing. Don’t let the insurance adjuster rush you into signing anything before consulting your attorney.
- Don’t accept the first offer: Insurance adjusters are trained to low-ball claimants on their initial offer. It is essential to follow your attorney’s advice before accepting the first
- Get a second opinion: If you have any doubts about the insurance adjuster’s offer, you should get a second opinion from a lawyer.
- Know your rights: It is vital to know your rights when dealing with insurance adjusters.
You can pursue a bad faith claim against Nationwide if you believe the company has not acted in good faith when handling your insurance claim.
Why It Is Essential to Have Legal Representation in Insurance Claim Settlements
Insurance companies are usually represented by adjusters and insurance defense lawyers, making it difficult for an unrepresented claimant to negotiate a fair settlement.
In addition, the insurance information provided by insurance companies to unrepresented claimants is often confusing, making it difficult for claimants to understand their rights.
Nationwide Insurance Auto Accident Claims FAQs
Below are some frequently asked questions related to auto injury claims with Nationwide Insurance company. Our law firm appreciates that you may have additional questions about your situation. We welcome you to contact our Chicago, IL, car accident attorneys for a free consultation regarding your legal options.
Hiring a Chicago Nationwide Auto Accident Claims Lawyer
We encourage you to contact the Chicago car accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC to schedule a no-obligation, free initial case consultation to facilitate legal representation.
Our law firm accepts all personal injury claims and wrongful death lawsuits through contingency fee arrangements. The agreement postpones the need to pay us upfront for our legal services.
Instead, our personal injury attorneys offer a “No Win/No-Fee” Guarantee, meaning if our law firm cannot secure financial compensation on your behalf, you owe us nothing.
Time is of the essence, and your case must be filed before the state statute of limitations expires.
Contact the legal team in our law firm today at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone call) or through the contact form to schedule a free consultation. All discussions with our Chicago car accident lawyers remain confidential through an attorney-client relationship.
Our personal injury law firm follows social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus).
