Bernie Tully Personal Injury Lawyer. Phone: 412-281-8700
Pittsburgh Injury Lawyer Bernie Tully is here to talk to you about what we call the zero credit rule in an injury case. In an injury case, the zero credit rule applies when the insurance company for the other side gives you ZERO credit if you simply “tough it out” and don’t seek any medical treatment for your accident-related pain and suffering.
For example, let us say you’re rear-ended and injured in an auto accident that was caused by the other driver BUT you don’t go to the doctor despite the fact you’re in pain. Well, you will get zero credit for living with your pain and deciding not to get medical treatment. Insurance companies have said to us, “If your client was hurt, they would have gotten treatment.” When we hear this from the insurance company, we explain that our client was trying to continue living their lives despite the pain and are also not trying to milk their claim for more than it’s worth. While this works sometimes, the vast majority of times the insurance company just doesn’t believe you were hurt if you don’t seek treatment for your injuries.
If you are hurt in an auto accident, please go to the doctor to get better because if you just decide to live through the pain, the insurance company will give you zero credit. However, if you are not hurt, then do not seek medical treatment. We will work with you and your doctors to get your records so we can document that you are getting treatment. Proving you are getting real, documented treatment is the route to go. We find this does increase the value of your claim. However, if you’re sitting at home trying to live with the pain, or doing home exercises, you are fighting an uphill battle. A zero credit battle.
Even if we don’t represent you and you try to do it yourself, at least give us a call and we’ll tell you what insurance companies do and do not value. Again the zero credit rule applies. Bernard Tully discusses the zero credit rule in the book he wrote on injury cases!
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Bernard Tully Pittsburgh Attorney. 412-281-8700 or 1-800-518-0050