Should I Negotiate My Own Claim?
If you have been injured in an auto accident in Texas, we strongly advise that you reach out to a reputable, experienced personal injury attorney for legal counsel. Whether you decide to hire an attorney is ultimately up to you, but in most cases it is in your best interest to, at a minimum, seek professional advice about your unique situation from a lawyer.
Oftentimes, auto accident victims will attempt to negotiate a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance adjuster on their own. Insurance adjusters are trained to pay out the smallest amount possible to the injured party and will attempt to settle the claim with lowball offers as quickly as possible. A savvy accident attorney in your corner will prevent this from happening and fight for a fair amount of compensation, ensuring that you are not misled or taken advantage of.
Following an automobile accident resulting in an injury, insurance companies move quickly to try and resolve the claim before an injured victim has sought out an attorney by sending a check right away. In many cases, this first settlement offer is very small and likely much less than the true value. An early settlement offer may not take into account all of the damages that the injured party has incurred. If you hire an injury attorney to represent you, they can take a full and accurate account of the damages, including medical costs and lost wages, and determine what you should be owed from the insurance company.
When Should I Contact An Injury Attorney?
There are certain situations when you should absolutely speak with an injury attorney and strongly consider hiring them to represent you. After an accident, seek immediate legal counsel if you have:
Suffered a catastrophic injury (spinal cord injury, brain injury, broken bones or fractures, burns)
Incurred extensive medical bills
Missed significant time at work
Been injured by a large corporation or business
Been hit by a drunk or distracted driver
Lost a loved one in the accident
When the amount of damages is extensive, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you get the maximum amount of compensation you deserve. It is simply not worth the risk of trying to negotiate with an insurance adjuster by yourself with so much on the table. In the above cases, injured victims need to be fully compensated for what they have experienced in the accident to cover the massive amount of costs associated with their injuries.
You may also consider hiring an attorney if the insurance company ignores you, denies your claim, contests liability in the accident, or fails to offer a settlement amount that you believe is fair.
What if I Received a Settlement Offer?
Although many auto accident claims are resolved prior to litigation, it is beneficial to have legal counsel if you do not receive a fair settlement offer from the insurance company. A personal injury attorney with trial experience will not be afraid to take your case to court to fight for compensation you need. When insurance adjusters see that an injured victim does not have legal representation on their side, settlement offers will be low and insufficient because there is no fear of litigation.
If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in an accident and you have received a settlement offer from an insurance company, STAY STRONG! Call The Armstrong Law Group.