How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim [Paperback]

Joseph Matthews (Author)

Book Description

Series: How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim | Publication Date: August 2002

Insurance companies don't want you to know what your personal injury claim is worth. And many lawyers want you to believe you can't handle a claim without their help. Neither is true. Armed with the right information, you can handle a claim -- and can save hundreds or thousands of dollars in the process.

How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim shows you how to handle almost every accident situation, and guides you through the insurance-claim process step-by-step. Learn how to:

*protect your rights after an accident

*evaluate what your claim is worth

*handle a property-damage claim

*deal with uncooperative lawyers, insurance companies and doctors

*avoid insurance company run-arounds

*obtain a full and fair settlement

*save for yourself what you would have paid an attorney

*stay on top of your case if you decide to hire an attorney

This updated edition of How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim contains new and expanded information on motorcycle and bicycle accidents, and accidents involving cell phones while driving. You'll also find examples of accident and injury situations, sample letters to begin, press and close your claim, and checklists and worksheets to guide you through the process.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The industries that are supposed to help people when they are injured actually make receiving compensation more difficult, asserts the author, who is a lawyer. According to Matthews, the health, insurance, and legal communities, more concerned with profit than genuine assistance, make the essentially simple claim process long and confusing. His book sets out to help individuals cut through the red tape when filing and pursuing a personal injury claim. It clearly and thoroughly outlines the basic principles of liability, insurance coverage, the valuation of the claim, negotiating, and finalizing a settlement. The inclusion of tips on state-by-state variations in time limits on filing and monetary thresholds, plus advice on what to do if the accident is caused by a government agency, makes this an essential purchase for public libraries.
- Joan Pedzich, Harris, Beach & Wilcox, Rochester, N.Y.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

....consumers can confidently handle claims against insurance companies and save the cost of legal fees. -- Jeffrey S. Klein, Legal View Columnist Los Angeles Times

An essential purchase. -- Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 244 pages
• Publisher: Nolo.com; 4th edition (August 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873378342
• ISBN-13: 978-0873378345
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,426,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > Law > Specialties > Personal Injury

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the book to buy!, June 26, 2007

By 

Legal eagle - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim (Paperback)

I would recommend you buy this book which is published by Nolo Press, which is probably the most prominent self-help legal publisher. It is a very good overview and covers alot. If you had to buy one book only, this is it.


I had also bought "Car Accident Secrets" which is written by an insurance "insider". I don't really recommend it. It only provided general/basic info. which is covered by Joseph Matthew's book. Good luck.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars $100,000 Policy Boating Accident, June 21, 2007

By 

M. Lodato - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim (Paperback)

I had a boating accident (I was a passenger) in 2001. I heard terrible stories from people who had hired lawyers and ended up with nothing. I bought this book and after 2 years of medical procedures & appointments, when I was done, I composed a letter requesting $85,000 from the insurance company (who had already been paying all my medical bills), State Farm. The policy was for $100,000 and the boat owner had only made one month's payment. I figured I would negotiate down to $65,000 minimum. I reasoned that if I ended up having to get a lawyer, I would ask for the $100,000 and end up with $66,000 (lawyer would get 30 percent). With my letter, documentation and before, during and after pictures, State Farm ended up awarding me $90,000. $5,000 more than I had requested. I highly recommend this book, but you must be thorough and patient. It's a lot of "legwork". A lot of research and stuff, but who knows your "pain and suffering" better than you. Certainly not a lawyer!!! The money is gone, but I used it to keep my paralyzed 83 year old mom at home with a caregiver until she passed away!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well Worth Purchasing, September 10, 2005

By 

L. Ritter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How To Win Your Personal Injury Claim (Paperback)

This book gets to the point. It covers many areas of claims. Easy to understand and great examples. It personally worked for me. Well worth the purchase. I'm keeping this book in my library for any, heaven provide, possible future needs.