Been in a Car Accident? Don’t Deal With the Insurance Company On Your Own
After being severely injured in an accident that was not your fault, the next steps you take in filing a personal injury claim could determine whether you obtain fair coverage to cover your losses and medical bills, or if you will end up in financial ruin while you recover. Insurance companies are out to make a profit, their goal is to minimize your injuries and reduce your claim as much as possible. Working with a car accident lawyer can make all the difference in how successful your claim is.
Settlement Offer
Once you file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, an adjuster from the company will call you to find out information about the accident, including details of damages and injuries. The adjuster will record all phone calls about the accident. They will also do their best to trip a victim up during any interviews, trying to get them to say anything that would indicate the victim was actually at fault. Adjusters are trained to ask specific questions and manipulate conversations that could result in the victim saying something that could be used out of context. This is why victims should never speak to anyone from an insurance company without first speaking to a lawyer.
The more complex the accident was, the more likely the adjuster is to offer the victim a settlement amount quickly. They might say their offer is the best they can do, which is usually not true at all. When the extent of the victim’s injuries will require long-term medical treatments or have left the victim with some form of permanent disability, the adjusters will work hard to get the victim to settle without thinking about it.
Before accepting a settlement, it is often better to consult a car accident lawyer who is well-versed in the tricks of the insurance trade. Having an attorney represent you will also make the adjuster take your claim more seriously.
Justifying the Offer
When an adjuster offers an amount that your lawyer thinks is below what the victim deserves, they will need to justify that amount. For each item they present, the attorney will counter those reasons with proof or physical evidence to show why the victim deserves more.
Once the attorney and the victim are satisfied with the settlement amount, a settlement letter will be drawn up that includes the amount and all other stipulations that have been agreed upon.
Contact a Car Accident Law Firm Today
If you have been injured by an at-fault driver, you deserve to be compensated for all the losses your injuries have caused, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. To ensure that compensation, you need a skilled attorney, like a car accident lawyer from a law firm like Tuttle Law, P.A.
