Injury Claims and Insurance

Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 20, 2016

Often, injury claims are handled by insurance companies. Generally speaking, insurance companies agree to pay for car accidents and other injuries involving their clients. After all, this is the reason people spend the money on insurance in the first place. But, as an insured claimant, it's important for you to read and understand the fine print in your insurance contract. There are times when insurance companies make mistakes, and if the claimant is uninformed, he or she could lose out on a benefit that was promised in the contract. Being well-informed about your insurance policy and contract will ensure that your legal interests are protected. FindLaw's Injury Claims and Insurance section provides general information about injury claims and insurance law, as well as the common types of insurance that are available to people. In this section, you can also find articles about the basic steps for filing an insurance claim, what a subrogation action is, and protecting a settlement from an insurance provider.

Common Types of Insurance

The reason to buy insurance is to give some financial protection in the event of a disaster, such as a car accident, natural disaster, or an injury. There are several types of insurance, and it can be hard to figure out which kind of insurance is necessary. In order to determine the best types of insurance for you, it's helpful to look at various factors including age, whether or not you have a family, lifestyle, and employment benefits.

Car insurance is not only good insurance to have but also required by law. Most states make it illegal to drive a car without having car insurance. Car insurance protects the insurance policy owner against physical damage to the car as well as bodily injury caused by a car accident. Most car insurance policies usually cover liability arising from a car accident as well.

Homeowner's insurance can be a helpful type of insurance if you own a home. This type of insurance generally protects both the home itself and the items inside the home. Sometimes homeowner's insurance policies also protect the homeowner from accidents that happen at the home, such as a slip and fall. Similar to homeowner's insurance is renter's insurance, which, as the name implies, is available to renters.

Another common type of insurance is life insurance. This type of insurance protects the insured person against the financial losses associated with death. Unlike most other types of insurance, the insured person doesn't receive the benefits of a life insurance policy. Instead, the insured person designates a beneficiary who receives the benefits upon the death of the insured person. This type of insurance is a good idea for people who want to make sure that their loved ones are not financially burdened upon the insured person's death.

Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal injury cases can be complex, especially if an insurance company, hospital, or other third party is involved. If you or someone close to you has suffered injuries that you believe were the result of someone else's actions, you may want to contact a personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options.

Protecting a Settlement From an Insurance Provider

Sometimes hospitals and other medical care providers lay claim to a patient’s personal injury settlement in order to collect what the patient owes them. Learn about how hospitals make a claim on a settlement and how to prevent it.
What Is a Subrogation Action?

A subrogation action allows your insurance provider to sue the party responsible for your injury on your behalf. This article provides an overview of subrogation rights and actions and lays out how subrogation actions work.

Liability for Injury: Insurance Options

There are many different types of insurance out there: car insurance, life insurance, homeowner's insurance. It can be difficult to know which polices are truly necessary. After all, insurance can be expensive. Read our guide to the most common insurance policies.
Insurance Claims After an Accident: The Basics

You've been injured in an accident. Your first step should be to file an insurance claim with your insurance or the insurance of the person responsible. This article will explain the insurance claims process, how insurance companies calculate the value of a claim, and the differences between first party and third party claims.