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Frequently Asked Questions After A Car Accident
Frequently Asked Questions After A Car Accident – Our Answers
At N. Rotsides & Co L.L.C., we want to inform our clients about their rights and help them find the best road to recovery. To help you understand what your options are after a car crash and why it is important to consider all options before signing anything with your insurance company, we have put together a list of frequently asked questions about car accidents and our responses.
What compensation is available after having been injured in an accident?
For most cases of our clients in Cyprus we will recover compensation for medical expenses and generally the costs reasonably incurred for the restoration and/or maintenance of their health after the accident. We can usually recover loss of income and/or loss of future income, if at all more serious injuries . In addition to these we ensure the recovery of special compensations for our customers and this fund includes all reasonable expenses incurred due to the accident. Finally, an important part of compensation is the compensation we secure for personal injuries suffered by our clients, for pain, suffering, loss of comfort and impairment of their quality of life, whether temporary or permanent.
We can only arrive at the calculation of your fair compensation after a thorough study of your case. The amount of your compensation can be affected by many variables such as, for example, the outcome of your health, the available testimonial material and the apportionment of responsibility for causing the accident. Tap the field What are we doing for more information and the process we follow to recover your compensation.
Can low-speed collisions still cause serious injuries?
Yes Even low speed vehicles can cause serious injuries. This is especially true in cases where the impact occurs at an unexpected time and the passenger did not have time to support his head (brace). Low speed collisions can cause significant damage to a person, often to the neck or back. These injuries can lead to chronic pain and make it difficult for them to work and do their daily activities. In these cases, it is best to seek medical help and trust us to get specialist advice on your rights after the accident.
Is it ok if I sign any paperwork after my accident?
Yes don’t sign anything. We cannot overemphasize how important it is not to sign any documents that are given to you by insurers and/or insurer agents and/or auto body shops after an accident. If you have a claim for damages, do not sign anything unless you get approval from your lawyer. Over the years we have come across several cases of clients who signed documents as they were told “for typical reasons» or to «repaired » the car, only to find out later that they had signed a waiver which the insurance company relied on to avoid paying any personal injury compensation.
Should I accept a quick settlement from the insurance company after a crash?
No Although many insurers and/or insurance company representatives come across as very helpful and pleasant and friendly, they are employed by the insurance companies and are primarily interested in saving their employers money. They do not serve your best interests or care about your vindication.
Insurance companies know that it takes time, weeks, sometimes months, and years after your accident for the various effects of your injury to become apparent. The sooner you settle your claim, the less likely you will know the full extent of your injuries and medical expenses. A possible settlement is final because always the insurance companies in order to disburse any amount in these cases ask for the signature of a waiver. Once the compensation is settled with the insurer, there is no refund. The claim is now settled and the issue is closed.
Our constant advice to our clients is to avoid dealing directly with insurance companies and make sure they get independent legal representation from Solicitors:
- who specialize in this complex area of compensation recovery law and,
- whom they trust
- with whom they have a written representation agreement
- which have shown consistent results in the past in this area
- not related to insurance companies or large companies / organizations.
Accepting a fast settlement usually (no exceptions) means settling for much lower amounts than what you are entitled to under the Law and the Jurisprudence of our courts. If you have been involved in a car accident, the first step is to rely on an experienced lawyer who meets the above requirements to protect your interests.
My own insurance company wants to appoint a lawyer to act for me Do I have to use the lawyer appointed by my insurance company?
No Insurance companies in Cyprus advertise that they provide to their clients «legal support service » the«claims support from other insurance companies »,claiming that they will undertake on your behalf all procedures to claim compensation from other insured and/or uninsured drivers, thus protecting your interests.
Even though insurers in Cyprus advertise that they provide injury victims with legal representation, it is important to remember that insurers act in the interests of their company and not the interests of accident victims. That is, one results conflict of interests which will inevitably lead to cases being settled for much lower compensation amounts than you are entitled to.
Because insurers are not lawyers, if you choose to use the so-called «legal support service », in the end, since the insurance companies in Cyprus cannot practice law, they will assign your case to a lawyer, who of course works professionally with the insurance company and is paid by the insurance company. So if your insurer offers to appoint a lawyer on your behalf to handle your claim you should bear in mind that appointing a lawyer (by an insurer) who is associated and works professionally with insurance companies may not be the best option for a claim against insurance companies.
How long do I have to file a claim or lawsuit?
In Cyprus, the limitation period (time limit for filing a lawsuit) on personal injury claims is 3 years from the date of the injury or loss. This is not a rule however, since each case is unique, it is best to consult an attorney to discuss the specifics of your claim. If you are concerned that your claim may be time-barred make sure you take legal advice on this.
I have been approached by a so called Claims Management or Claims Negotiator Company and they promised to swiftly settle my claim with favourable terms. Should I go with them?
No In recent years many of our clients have been approached (even at the hospital sometimes) by so-called “receivables management companies “ asking for more details about the accident and asking if they wish to proceed with their claims for compensation.
In Cyprus, as in all countries, the exercise of specialized professions requires registration and control by the competent state services. Practicing law without a license to practice the profession of lawyer and registration with the Pancypriot Bar Association, for obvious reasons, is a criminal offence.
Therefore, unless they are breaking the law, so-called claims management companies should generally work with lawyers to properly advise you on the merits of your claim or the monetary value of what would be fair compensation in your case. This means that you will have to shoulder the costs of both the claims management company and the lawyer who will be working on your case, who you may not even meet.
The so-called receivables management companies in Cyprus are not regulated by any government body. This means that virtually any person can, so unchecked, create such a company, without having the proper credentials, qualifications and training. Further, unlike a licensed and registered attorney with a license to practice law, these companies do not have mandatory professional liability insurance, so if they handle your claim incorrectly or negligently, you may not be able to receive compensation.
Inevitably, such companies will most likely advise you to settle your claim out of court, which usually means you will receive a much lower amount of compensation than would be fair and reasonable in your case. This is why you should always ask your lawyer early on to take a stand and advise you if you want even in writing about the amount of compensation that your lawyer believes is fair and reasonable in your case.
Learn more
Click here to read more information about our company and the compensation recovery process of N. Rotsidis & Co. D.E.P.E.
