If you are involved in a car accident that was not your fault, days or weeks after the accident you might be approached by a lawyer for the insurance company that is offering you a large settlement check. In many cases, these dollar amounts are more than most people see in one place their entire life. That is the reason why it is crucial you have your own attorney, because chances are this settlement is not everything it appears to be on the surface.
Here are just a few reasons why you need an attorney if the at-fault driver’s insurance company wants to settle the case;
The Settlement Soon After Accident
While you are still recovering from the accident, all of a sudden you are being contacted by the at-fault driver’s insurance company with a settlement offer. Not only are you still dealing with your pain, you haven’t even had a chance to speak with a personal injury lawyer. This is the exact reason the settlement offer is coming in so blazing fast. The hope here is the at-fault driver’s insurance company gets to you before you have the chance to hire an attorney, presenting you with the largest check you have ever seen, and telling you no need to give a chunk of it to your attorney, just take the cash.
In most cases, the at-fault driver’s insurance company does not want you to get an attorney because they feel they will pay far more in the end, so they rush the case to a close.
Getting an Offer Right After You’re Seen by a Doctor
Once you leave the hospital, the at-fault driver’s insurance company may request you see their physician so they can determine and confirm the extent of your injuries. When you are done being seen by the doctors and suddenly have a settlement check being presented to you, it is not because the other side is looking out for your best interests. The doctor may have confirmed these are serious injuries and the lawyers for the insurance company want to try and get out as cheaply as possible.
Most drivers who see the size of the check jump and the chance for easy money, only to discover it was a tiny fraction of what they could have settled for if they had only hired a personal injury attorney first.
Large Settlement Offers Not Large Enough?
When the at-fault driver’s insurance company offers you a settlement check, how could you possibly know if the dollar amount is in line with your injuries? It might seem like a wonderful amount of cash, but chances are it is only a small percentage of what a skilled personal injury lawyer would have won for you. The fact the other side is admitting guilt means they want to try and entice you to take a tiny portion now so they save a fortune down the road.
Your personal injury lawyer can determine how this injury will impact your way of life, your ability to earn in the future, and the pain you’ll be dealing with the rest of your life, and put a more accurate number on the case.
The Inability to Recoup Medical Bills in the Future
One of the biggest issues when you accept the check from the at-fault driver’s insurance company too early, you give up the right to sue for more money and you are now responsible for your medical bills moving forward. If the injuries require surgery or treatment well into your later years, you will be in financial ruin in short order.
Your attorney will make certain that your medical bills are covered today and for your remaining years because of the impact of the accident.
This is a lot of money, and when you take the settlement check, many times you give up the right to sue in the future. When you are working with a professional attorney, they will be able to make certain you are not being short-changed and get every penny you are entitled to.
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