As a lawyer, we are asked a lot of questions by our clients regarding what they should or shouldn’t tell the insurance company. We are also asked questions regarding things like whether or not our client should accept settlement offers or they should go to court. Knowing what to do when it comes to working with the insurance company is incredibly difficult simply because you’re dealing with a mammoth corporation not your local insurance agent. This alone can leave a lot of our clients feeling a little bit lost simply because they are so used to working with their neighborhood agent. After all, this is why most people select their insurance carrier because they actually know the agent. However, after you’ve been in an accident you’re going to be dealing with a claims representative that is probably located in a different state, rather than somebody that you know on a one-on-one basis. For this reason and more, it is wise for you to work with an attorney that understands the best way to deal with the insurance company. We do and are certainly happy to assist you in the process.
Here are some of the questions we hear from clients on a regular basis –
Do I have to file a lawsuit right away?
The answer is no. However, you should know that there is a statute of limitations and if you reach this point, you will not be able to file a lawsuit. This is why it is in your best interest to hire a lawyer right away and to begin the process of settlement negotiations. During this time, we will look to see how everything is progressing and if it appears that the insurance company is not going to give you a fair settlement offer, we will recommend that you go to trial and certainly file a lawsuit before your time limit has run out.
How do I know if I’m getting a fair settlement offer?
This is more complicated because it is going to be different for every person and every situation. However, there are certain things that we look for. First, is the insurance company trying to settle with you too quickly? If so, there’s a good chance that you are not yet fully aware of the nature or extent of your injuries. It can take time for everything to manifest and it can take time to find out whether you are going to make a fast recovery or if you’re going to need additional procedures, physical therapy, or even surgery. You need to have enough time after the accident to be treated by a doctor so they can make these important determinations. Second, is the insurance company offering you money to pay for your current medical bills and your future medical bills? They must take into consideration what you’re going to spend going forward instead of only looking at what is tallying up today. Thirdly, is the insurance company offering you any money for your lost wages? After an accident, it is incredibly common to miss time from work and even to suffer job loss completely. The more serious of your injuries are, the more likely that you have suffered financial loss. Since our goal is to ensure that you are treated fairly and receive a good settlement offer, we will evaluate all of these factors and more when telling you whether or not we feel the settlement offer is fair.
As a local lawyer, we can answer these questions and more when you visit us for a consultation. Feel free to call us as soon as possible and we will be happy to walk you through the process, or even to help you negotiate with the insurance company.
