The mild-mannered Life Coach Dr. Rick featured in Progressive's television commercials may teach people how to "un-become their parents," but he doesn't warn them about the sneaky tactics Progressive uses to get out of paying injured policyholders the full compensation they deserve.
Dr. Rick doesn't fool the lawyers at Redemption Law. We deal with insurance companies like Progressive every day for our clients. Here's how we handle Progressive injury claims. a personal injury lawyer guides you with legal terms.
Common Injury Claim Accidents
People rely on Progressive to provide compensation for their losses after an accident.
Our lawyers handle many accident claims for clients, including:
- Car accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Truck accidents
- Rideshare accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
About Progressive
Progressive was founded in 1937 and is now the second-largest insurance carrier and the largest commercial auto insurer in the U.S. The company brings in more than $42 billion in annual revenue. Dr. Rick may serve as a charming spokesperson for Progressive, but his charm doesn't satisfy some consumers who claim Progressive adjusters were rude and refused to cover their losses.
Filing a Progressive Injury Claim in Florida
Florida is a no-fault state when it comes to car insurance. If you are in an accident in Florida, you must first seek compensation from your own car insurance company, regardless of who caused the accident. When you file a claim with your own insurance company seeking compensation, it's called a first-party claim.
Progressive policyholders have three options for filing claims through the Progressive mobile app, logging into your Progressive account online, or calling the company's claims department at (800) 776-4737. You will need to provide some basic information, such as the time, date, and place your accident occurred; the makes and models of the vehicles involved; and the name and insurance information for the other driver, if you have it.
Progressive will assign a claims representative to your case, and they will likely follow up with you.
Don't provide too much information about your accident. Don't sign any forms or give any statements, and never admit fault, even if you worry about partial blame for the accident. Several factors could have contributed to your accident, and you don't want Progressive twisting your words. Just provide the basic information to report your claim and let our lawyers handle the rest of the communications with the insurance company.
Personal Injury Protection Insurance in Florida
Several no-fault states require motorists to carry a minimum amount of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. Florida is no exception.
Progressive offers different PIP coverage levels, but the Sunshine State requires drivers to carry a minimum of $10,000 in PIP insurance.
Your PIP provides compensation for your own medical bills and lost income for injuries suffered in a car accident up to your policy limits. If your injuries exceed your PIP policy limits, you may file a claim against the at-fault driver's insurance company.
Third-Party Claims
If you file a claim against the at-fault driver's insurance company, it's called a third-party claim.
Since Progressive is the largest auto insurance provider in the country, chances are you’ll file your third-party claim against Progressive regardless of whether or not you are a Progressive policyholder.
Third-party claims work similarly to first-party claims but are a bit trickier since you are not the policyholder.
Our lawyers have had plenty of experience dealing with first- and third-party claims with Progressive.
Florida law also allows people who were injured in accidents to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver if they suffered severe or catastrophic injuries or their property damage exceeds $10,000.
Florida defines severe and catastrophic injuries as those that:
- Cause permanent, significant scarring or disfigurement
- Cause permanent, significant loss of a vital bodily function
- Will never fully heal, within a reasonable degree of medical probability
- Result in death
Our accident lawyers have experience negotiating with insurance companies. We can advise whether you can file a third-party claim or lawsuit.
Progressive’s Claims Process
The claims representative Progressive assigns to handle your case will also spearhead an investigation into your accident. They'll look over the accident report, medical records, and other evidence available to assess your damages.
Afterward, they'll usually offer to settle your claim. The offer will likely include compensation for your medical bills and lost income if your injuries kept you from working at your job. Progressive may also offer some money for pain and suffering.
Progressive is gambling that you have not retained legal representation and don’t know all of the damages you deserve. Once you agree to an offer, the deal is done. You can’t go back and ask for more.
Instead of agreeing to the insurance company’s first offer, meet with our personal injury lawyers. Our attorneys offer free consultations where we will discuss your accident and how your injuries have affected your life and the lives of your family members. We can tell you if Progressive’s offer is worth taking. Chances are, it’s not.
How Our Lawyers Can Handle Your Progressive Injury Claim
Once you hire our accident injury lawyers, we will begin working on your Progressive claim.
We Will Investigate Your Accident
Our lawyers will launch their own investigation into your accident to determine possible causes and identify all parties that may have played a role. We will review any evidence, such as accident scene photos, the police report, your medical records, your treatments, and any eyewitness accounts.
We Will Identify all Liable Parties
Identifying the at-fault party can require more than you realize.
For example, if a road hazard contributed to your accident, you can hold a government entity liable for not maintaining the streets. Sometimes multiple cars are in an accident, and more than one driver may bear fault for your injuries. Or, in the case of a truck accident, you can hold the trucking company liable if it didn't keep its trucks properly maintained and a blown tire on one of their vehicles caused the trucker to lose control and crash into you.
Our lawyers will pursue compensation from all liable parties.
We Will Value Your Claim
More likely than not, Progressive’s settlement offer will overlook a lot of your damages. You should receive compensation for them all.
Our lawyers will consider many damages in your accident case that Progressive will likely ignore.
Damages usually fall into two categories economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are actual financial losses suffered because of your accident injuries.
These include:
- Medical expenses, including any treatments, hospitalization, medication, and rehabilitation
- Future medical needs, including home healthcare or supportive services
- Modifications to your home or vehicle due to a permanent disability
- Special equipment or prosthetics
- Lost income
- Loss of future income
- Property damage
- Funeral and burial expenses
Non-economic damages refer to non-monetary losses. These subjective damages are more difficult to value.
Examples include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
Once we know the full extent of your damages, we will determine a value for your injury claims, which represents the demand for compensation we will present to Progressive.
Because non-economic damages don't come with a specific price tag like medical expenses, we calculate them using one of two methods.
The multiplier method involves multiplying your economic damages by a number, or multiplier. The per diem method calculates a daily rate, often based on your salary.
Progressive Calculates Damages Differently
Insurance companies use claims software to calculate the value of injury claims. Progressive doesn't admit which system it uses, but these programs essentially work the same. The adjuster enters data about your accident and injuries into the program, and the software calculates a settlement range.
The Progressive adjuster will offer a settlement, usually starting with the low end of the range. But these computer programs fall short of accurately calculating damages in several ways. For starters, they often overlook details such as additional medical treatments, ongoing medical or supportive care, or mental anguish.
Our lawyers believe you deserve compensation for all your damages, and we will play hardball with Progressive to make them pay what they owe you.
We Will Negotiate with Progressive for a Fair Settlement
Our lawyers' demand for compensation will more accurately reflect the value of your damages, and we will negotiate with Progressive for a fairer settlement.
Progressive will likely make a counteroffer, and chances are, it will still unfairly compensate you.
We will try to continue negotiations until we reach a fair settlement with Progressive. Sometimes Progressive refuses to play fair, and we may recommend filing a lawsuit in civil court.
We Will Represent You in Court if Necessary
If we pursue a lawsuit for you, we will file your case before Florida's two-year statute of limitations expires. Sometimes all it takes is the threat of a lawsuit to get the insurance company to make a fair offer. Insurance companies would rather settle than go through the time-consuming and costly trial process. We will continue to negotiate with Progressive for you, and if it refuses a fair settlement, we will represent you in court and advocate for you there.
Contact a Lawyer with Redemption Law Today
Progressive is the largest provider of commercial auto insurance in the United States, with revenues soaring above $42 billion. You'd think an insurance company with a passive Dr. Rick the Life Coach as its spokesperson would play fair. But Progressive, like other insurance companies, is far more interested in its profits than in giving its injured policyholders the compensation they deserve.
The games Protective plays don't fool our lawyers. We know how to handle Progressive injury claims and get you the maximum compensation you need and deserve. You can trust a personal injury attorney in Miami at Redemption Law to handle your injury case professionally and compassionately so you can focus on your own recovery. Contact our personal injury law firm today at (305) 465-3425 for your free consultation and case evaluation.