(4) Insurance Information
A good personal injury lawyer, to put it bluntly, is on a quest to try to acquire all insurance policies that may pertain to a personal injury case. This includes insurance information for the first party and the third-party claims. First party is a legal term for the client's claims with her own insurance entities. Third party is legal term for the personal injury client's claim against the alleged at fault parties.
On the first party insurance side, the attorney will want to learn more about the types of insurance policies that the prospective client had in effect at the time of her injuries. This can be a standard health insurance policy. It can also be a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) policy that is a no-fault auto insurance policy that can pay for an insured's health care treatment. (PIP policies can also cover income loss and household help). Medical Payments (also known as ‘Med-Pay' policies) polices can also be applicable.
In certain cases, the client's insurance may involve Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, or a Workers Compensation insurance arrangement. In fact, in some personal injury cases there can be multiple insurance policies making health care payments on the insured's behalf.
On the first party side, the subject of a possible underinsured motorist (UIM) or uninsured motorist (UM) insurance policy may come up.
On the third-party side, the attorney will want to do a thorough examination of all possible liable parties and the liability insurance the opposing parties may have available.
The bottom line is that the subject of insurance will be a part of the topics discussed at any personal injury consultation.