Learn Why It's in Your Best Interests to Contact a Dallas-Fort Worth Personal Injury Lawyer Before Accepting a Settlement Offer
When it comes to negotiating a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance adjuster, it's crucial to have a personal injury attorney by your side. These adjusters are trained to pay out the smallest amount possible to the injured party and will try to settle the claim with lowball offers as quickly as possible. However, with a skilled accident attorney representing you, you can avoid this and fight for a fair amount of compensation, ensuring that you are not misled or taken advantage of.
What If I've Received an Early Settlement Offer?
After an accident resulting in an injury, insurance companies often move quickly to try and resolve the claim before the victim has sought out an attorney. They may send a check right away, but this first settlement offer is often 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. By hiring 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, potentially saving you from accepting an inadequate offer.
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.