When you or a loved one suffers an injury on someone else’s residential or commercial property, it can be a stressful experience as you try to figure out the financial ramifications and other consequences. Getting injured due to another person’s negligence is frustrating since it means the incident could have been avoided if they just fixed the issue before you fell and hurt yourself.
Even though it is a stressful time, do not end it too quickly by jumping to accept the insurance adjuster’s initial offer. This can end up hurting you in the long run. Learn why you should not accept a cash settlement from a Los Angeles insurance adjuster for your premises liability injury.
Types of Costs that a Personal Injury May Incur
When you injure yourself on someone else’s property, you could end up with a large amount of bills and other financial issues as well, according to the Journal of American Geriatrics Society. These will add up quickly, and you should not have to bear the burden of these costs, which can include:
- Medical Bills: You may have hospital bills, surgery costs, doctor bills, emergency room copays, and other costs after your injury.
- Future Medical Costs: Depending on the severity of your injury, you could have a stay in a long-term rehabilitation facility, ongoing physical therapy needs, and more that you deserve to be compensated for by the negligent party.
- Lost Earnings: Recovering from an injury can take quite some time, and more than likely, your employer will not be paying you for the time that you are away from your job. You may end up using your paid time off in the process. This can quickly add up as well.
- Loss of Future Earnings: Your injury could end up preventing you from returning to the job that you held before it occurred, and you should be compensated for your loss of future potential earnings.
As you can see, the financial costs associated with your injury can quickly amass into what can seem like insurmountable amounts, which could make it tempting to accept the first initial offer. However, that decision may end up harming you more than helping you, as their offer, more than likely, will not cover everything that you need.
In the time after an accident, unanticipated costs can continue to arise, and the insurance company knows this. They try to make you an offer quickly in hopes that you will take it. By doing so, you often agree to forfeit your right to take legal action against them later on.
Why You Should Speak to a Lawyer Before Doing Anything
Before you think about accepting the offer from the insurance adjuster, you should consult with a premises liability lawyer. The lawyer will be able to provide you with valuable guidance about your case and assess the fairness of the initial settlement from the insurance company. More often than not, the insurance company will offer you a much lower settlement than what you deserve for your injury.
Once you decide to hire a lawyer to help with your Los Angeles premises liability case, they start negotiating directly with the insurance companies, which negates the threat of them trying to take advantage of you and lowball you. They will also try to swiftly end the case and get you the compensation you deserve as soon as possible.
Your lawyer will help with compiling all that is needed for your case, including evidence such as security camera footage, medical records, photos of the scene where you were injured, witness statements, and more. They will also anticipate any loopholes that the other side may try to use against you.
Think Twice Before Accepting an Initial Cash Settlement
If you have suffered an injury due to premises liability, you may be entitled to recover much more compensation than what the insurance company may offer you in a settlement. Instead of accepting their low offer, consider speaking with a Los Angeles premises liability lawyer instead.
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we can fight for you to make sure you seek the compensation you deserve for your injury. Contact us at (800) 223-5115 to begin a free consultation with our representatives.