Should I Hire an Attorney or Rely on my Insurance Company to Handle My Case?
Insurance is a multi-billion dollar per year business, and a sizable portion of that money is spent convincing you that the insurance company works for your benefit. Catchy slogans and memorable representatives combine with teams of adjusters, agents and claims personnel to portray the notion that they are just waiting to leap to the rescue of customers, if and when they are needed. This is not necessarily the case, especially when you are dealing with someone else’s insurance company after having sustained an injury in some type of accident at work, on someone else’s property or while driving or walking down the street.
Low Settlement Offers
In personal injury cases, it is common practice for insurance companies to offer a low settlement at the beginning of the process. Victims are often vulnerable immediately following the accident and need money quickly. If an insurance company can settle a claim with a low first offer, they get rid of your problem quickly and save money for their shareholders. If you accept the insurance company’s initial offer and cash the check, you may receive inadequate compensation and limit your recourse for unforeseen losses in the future.
Equitable Claim Settlements
The results of a study conducted in 1999 by the Insurance Research Council (IRC) suggest that hiring an attorney pays significant dividends for accident victims pursuing an auto insurance claim. According to the Consumer Panel Survey of Auto Accident Victims, “Paying for Auto Injuries,” settlements for injury victims were 40 percent higher with attorney representation than without it. Consider the rising costs between 1999 and today, consumers could reap an even bigger settlement. Securing an attorney in a personal injury settlement can make a huge difference, regardless of whether the cause of the injuries are from an auto accident or some other type of injury.
Experience with Insurance and Personal Injury Laws
Depending on the circumstances of your incident, the particulars of the law can become complicated.
- What if the person who rear-ended you doesn’t have insurance? Or what if their insurance refuses to pay?
- What if the dog bite you received makes you seriously ill and ends up costing you thousands? What if the neighbor won’t take responsibility?
One can see how easily a personal injury claim can become complicated. Any time you are injured and are dealing with an insurance company or another private party directly for your claim, you have the right to consult an attorney. Consider seeking legal representation, you never know when the situation may become more complicated than you expected.
Equality of Treatment
Consider seeking a personal injury lawyer immediately if you feel intimidated by the representatives of the insurance company or another party. Your attorney will be able to handle communications with the other parties involved and help you understand your rights and the claims process. A personal injury attorney will be quite familiar with the process and can provide assistance in handling your claim in a timely manner, to make sure your claim is settled quickly, but fairly. While some may argue that hiring an attorney is adversarial, it really isn’t true. Hiring a personal injury lawyer simply levels the playing field for you and ensures that you will receive the compensation due you.
Expert Consultants
Insurance companies may demand medical examinations or professional estimates to determine the amount of injury or loss. While these may be conducted by reputable professionals, you also have the right to independent evaluations. A personal injury lawyer can employ a network of medical, vocational and other experts. These experts can assist in determining the full value of a victim’s loss after an accident in order to determine equitable and adequate loss or injury evaluations.
Is an Attorney Necessary in All Personal Injury Cases?
Some minor injury cases could be resolved between accident victims and insurance companies, however, it is difficult to know when a personal injury case may involve tricky legal or liability issues; it’s best to consult an attorney for any personal injury case. There is no cost for an initial consultation and the advice you receive may be invaluable.
GreeningLaw, P.C. provides experienced and aggressive personal injury representation for those injured in accidents or other acts of negligence. We fight the legal battle so you have time for healing and renewal. Give them a call at (972)-934-8900 or fill out the online form to arrange a free initial consultation.