What if you are a in a car accident that you suffer significant injuries and you were not at fault in the mishap. You make an accident compensation claim without getting a personal injury attorney.
The responsible party’s insurance company makes a settlement offer that covers your current medical bills, property damage and maybe a little more for your pain and suffering. The catch is they want a release signed for any future liabilities for the collision.
This all sounds good except that you have continuing medical issues from the accident and these medical problems may continue into the future. What should do?
Your First Mistake Was Going It Alone
Insurance companies are in business to make money and the way they make money is to pay out less then they take in. So, they are always looking to minimize settlements. They hire very good lawyers to keep on staff to negotiate these settlements. When you put yourself in the position of dealing with them directly, you might have put yourself in a bad negotiating position.
Is It Too Late To Do Something About That?
If you haven’t signed a comprehensive release, maybe not. You really need to gather up all your correspondence with the insurance carrier and find yourself a successful personal injury law firms to speak with or several to speak with.
What Can A Personal Injury Attorney Do That I Can’t?
There are a number of reasons to speak with an attorney:
- They can sort out what you have already agreed to and the compensation (if any) you have already received.
- They can tell you what the consequences of agreements that you have already made will possible have on the future of your claim.
- They may be able to find out more facts that possibly you missed with a thorough investigation of their own of the accident.
- They can find accident and medical experts to shed more light on what the long term affects of your injury might be.
- They may be able to more accurately asses the settlement value of your injuries as well as the long term cost of treating those injuries.
- If need be, they can take the case to a court of law, if possible, and prosecute the case on your behalf in order to get a reasonable settlement.
- Their presence tells the insurance company lawyers, that you are now represented by professionals that know the law.
How To Find The Right Legal Professional
If you are not aware of any firms that you would want to hire, you should do a search, just like you would to hire someone. Interview several firms and find out:
- The recent success rate in cases similar to yours.
- Their opinion of the chances of success on taking a case that has already been somewhat negotiated.
- The cost of their services and whether they will work on a contingency fee (a percentage of the final settlement).
In these type of accident compensation claims, it can be more challenging for a personal injury law firm to take a case already started. But it may something that will help you get a fairer settlement.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant for legal or medical advice. Please consult with a legal or medical professional for legal or medical advice.
