Tate Law Offices PC

Frequently Asked Questions

1. I am getting calls from the insurance company wanting me to give a statement about the wreck. Should I talk to them?

ANSWER:  No, do not give a statement to ANY insurance company (the other drivers or yours) concerning the accident without a lawyer assisting you.  The reason they want your statement is to see if you will say something that they can use against you to deny your claim.

2. I need to see a doctor and I don’t have any health insurance or money to pay the doctor bills.  What can I do to get medical treatment?

ANSWER:  We have many clients in this situation.  In most cases we take we can issue a Letter of Protection (LOP) to a doctor to get your medical treatment now and the doctor is paid the medical bill at the end of the case.  Every case is different and we can speak with you about the best way to receive medical treatment.

3. How much money can I recover for the wreck?

ANSWER:  Auto accident injury claims are valued on a case-by-case basis.  The value of the case depends on the severity of the injuries, the size of the at-fault driver’s insurance policy, and the facts of how the accident occurred.  We strive on every case to put the maximum amount of money into our client’s pocket.

4. Who will pay to fix or total my car and put me in a rental car?

ANSWER:  The at-fault driver’s insurance company will pay for a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired.  If your car is deemed a total loss, the at-fault driver’s insurance company has to pay you the fair market value of the car.  Sometimes, if the at-fault driver’s insurance company still has the claim under investigation you can use your own insurance policy to fix or pay for your car and put you into a rental car and your insurance company will seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

5. I’m getting medical bills in the mail, who will pay these bills?

ANSWER:  Technically you are responsible for the medical bills.  However, we seek to ultimately make the at-fault driver responsible to pay for these bills and/or reimburse you for any bills you paid.  If you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) on your automobile policy we can request those funds on your behalf to help pay your medical bills in the short term until we have time to place the burden of the bills on the driver who caused the wreck.

6. Why should I choose your law firm to represent me?

ANSWER:  Our philosophy is to take select cases and spend time working on those cases to increase their value as much as possible.  We do not advertise on TV in order to take a large number of cases because we know it takes time to add value to each case.  Also, we give each client personal attention and we collect compensation for damage to your car and collect Personal Injury Protection (PIP) funds without any legal fee.  We work on all cases on a contingent agreement which means we do not charge any legal fee whatsoever unless we are successful in obtaining money for you.

7. What do I do if my car is totaled and I owe more money on the car than the car is worth?

ANSWER:  If you have GAP insurance on your current loan it will pay the difference between the value of your car and the amount owed on your car loan.  If you do not have GAP insurance then we need to look at what other options might be available.

8. When will I be paid money for my accident?

ANSWER:  That depends on a number of factors.  First, you should be completely done treating with the doctors before you consider any settlement.  After you are done with treatment we will gather all of your medical bills and records and make a demand for settlement to the insurance company.  If we can reach a number that is satisfactory to you the case will be concluded at that time.  If the insurance company does not offer a reasonable settlement we will file suit and work to increase the value of the offer to an appropriate amount.

9. The at-fault driver doesn’t have automobile insurance coverage.  What do I do?

ANSWER:  We will check to see if you have Uninsured/Underinsured insurance on your automobile policy.  If you do have this type of insurance we can make a claim that this insurance pay you for your losses.  In such a case, your own insurance company will usually assert all claims and defenses as would the at-fault driver’s insurance company. 

10. What can I be compensated for due to the accident?

ANSWER:  You will have a variety of claims for the losses you have incurred.  They may include such things as past and future medical expenses, loss of earning capacity, pain and mental anguish, scarring and disfigurement, and physical impairment.

11. How important is it to follow the doctor’s orders?

ANSWER:  If your doctor prescribed physical therapy, an MRI, or any other treatment, we believe you should follow your doctor’s recommendations.   If you do not follow through with the medical plan as prescribed by your doctor, the defendant’s insurance company will claim you contributed to your injuries by not following the doctor’s orders.  They will use this to try to pay you less money so don’t give them the opportunity to assert this defense.  Also, following the doctor’s orders should help you physically recover in the best way.