While you can deal with the insurance companies after a car accident yourself, a lawyer will communicate with them for you while handling your case. You do not need an attorney to manage your car accident case, but hiring a lawyer who knows how to negotiate with insurers could be to your benefit.
Why It May Be a Good Idea to Let Your Lawyer Do the Talking
If the other driver was liable for the collision, you would most likely pursue compensation through that person’s auto insurance policy. Insurance companies are in business to make money. To maximize their profits, they minimize the amount they pay out in claims.
Speaking to the other person’s insurance company yourself may be risky. An insurer may look for an excuse to limit your amount of compensation or to deny your claim altogether.
To earn your trust, insurance adjusters act as though they are on your side and want to close the case quickly and compensate you fairly. An adjuster may then take your words out of context and argue that your injuries are not as serious as you claim, that you were not hurt at all, or that you were partly or completely liable for the crash.
If you live in a no-fault state, you will have to seek compensation first through your insurance company, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). If you do not live in a no-fault state, you may also be required to report the car accident to your insurance company.
Even though your insurer may be looking out for your interests, you should still be careful not to provide too much information because something you say might come back to haunt you. Your attorney can advise you on how to approach a conversation with your insurer, and they may want to speak with the other driver’s insurer and your insurer on your behalf.
You Might Not Know How Much Your Case Is Worth
If you were seriously hurt in a car crash, you may have been treated in a hospital and need to undergo physical or occupational therapy or visit a chiropractor several times per week over several months. Even after you complete your treatment, you may have a permanent neurological impairment or a limited range of motion, or you may have permanent scars or disfigurement.
You might not be able to return to work any time soon. When you do go back, it could be on a part-time basis, doing only a fraction of the things you did before the accident. Your income may be dramatically lower than it was before the car crash. You may be unable to work in your industry at all and have to find a completely new line of work.
It can be challenging to estimate how much your medical bills will total and how much income you may lose because of the accident. You may also have no idea how to put a price tag on the physical and emotional pain and suffering you have already experienced and will continue to endure.
Insurance companies recognize that most people who have been injured in a car accident do not know how much their claim is worth. Insurers typically offer a lowball settlement and try to convince an injured claimant that the offer is reasonable or even generous.
In some cases, insurance companies try to intimidate injured people or persuade them to accept low settlements by claiming that they will lose if the case goes to trial and get nothing.
How Your Attorney Can Handle the Insurance Companies
If you were hurt in a car accident, you might be feeling overwhelmed by your injuries and financial strain. Speaking with insurance companies and worrying that your words may be used against you or that you may be pressured or duped into accepting an unfair settlement is an additional layer of stress that you do not need. Your attorney can handle the burden of dealing with insurance companies and protect your rights so you can focus on your recovery.
Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. It is important to know the deadline in your state because you could lose out on the chance to sue for damages if you miss it. Insurance companies sometimes do not respond to phone calls and emails from injured parties. They also can repeatedly deny claims to stretch out the process and cause the injured person to miss the deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit. That is another reason to let your attorney deal with insurers directly.
Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm has helped people who were hurt in collisions pursue justice by dealing with insurance companies on their behalf. We are well versed in the strategies that insurers use to deny claims or to limit payouts. Our legal team can explain the laws in your state, advise you on your rights, and deal with the insurance companies for you after your car accident.
Call our office today at (800) 223-5115 to discuss your case with a member of our staff and to learn more about how we can assist you.