Negotiations to settle a personal injury claim typically begin with a demand letter. It is the initial contact a claimant makes with an alleged at-fault party in an attempt to resolve the case before filing a lawsuit.
Personal injury protection (PIP) is not required in Missouri, but opting for this kind of insurance is highly advisable. Instead of PIP, Missouri insurance companies refer to this type of coverage as medical payments insurance, or “MedPay.” MedPay coverage can pay for medical treatment after an accident and helps minimize out-of-pocket payments.
If an employee’s negligence causes you harm, you sometimes have two options for obtaining compensation. You can file a personal injury lawsuit against the employee for their actions, or under the legal principle called “respondeat superior,” you can sue their employer.
The serious nature of personal injury accidents often entitles victims to substantial compensation. Because of the high stakes, lawyers for insurance companies usually fight these claims tooth and nail, relying on the following common defenses to do so.
Missouri follows a “pure comparative fault” system.
If you have been injured in a preventable accident caused by another person or company’s negligence, the law allows you to recover compensation from the responsible parties. However, before that happens, you need to prove liability—which is where evidence comes in.
When you are in a car accident or suffer some other type of personal injury, you may be in the position to get a settlement from an insurance company. However, the insurance company may not offer a settlement that you believe is fair.