Why you shouldn’t deal with an insurance company on your own

There’s a lot to do after being involved in a car accident. You’ll probably need to make a police report, seek medical treatment and deal with your insurance company. But since you have a policy that promises to help cover at least some of your medical expenses and property loss, you might think that you don’t really need an attorney on your side. But that assumption can be dangerous. Here’s why:

• Insurance companies are looking out for themselves: Although insurance companies put together convincing advertising that makes it seem like they want to put you first, the sad reality is that they actually put profits and their shareholders first. And the best way for them to turn a profit is to minimize their claim payouts as much as possible. Therefore, the insurance company isn’t really on your side. An attorney can help you ensure that you’re being treated fairly by an insurance company and are best positioned to recover the compensation that you deserve.
• Your words may be taken out of context: If you forego an attorney, you’re going to be dealing with insurance companies directly, most likely an insurance adjuster. This can be risky because anything you say can be twisted, taken out of context, and used against you. If you’re represented by an attorney, though, you can ensure that your communications with an insurance company are clear and protect your interests.
• You need a strong negotiation strategy: Your personal injury case might resolve through settlement negotiations long before you get to the point of litigation. Although that might give you the opportunity to obtain quick access to cash, you want to make sure that you’re recovering the amount of compensation that you deserve. This means that you need to know how to aggressively negotiate in your best interests. Without an attorney, the insurance company might be able to trick you into accepting something that is far less than your claim is worth.
• You need to fully assess your damages: Before you can tell whether a settlement offer is appropriate, you have to have a firm understanding of the extent of your damages. Although it may be easy for you to calculate some of these damages, such as your lost wages and your incurred medical expenses, you also need to take into account your anticipated medical expenses, your lost earnings capacity, and your noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering and lost enjoyment of life. An attorney can better help you calculate these damages so that you can be confident that you’re seeking the compensation that you truly deserve.
• You need to be prepared for litigation: The best way to position yourself for a successful negotiation is to be ready to try your case in court. This means that you need to know how to present evidence to the insurance company in a way that will convince it that it will lose if it goes to trial. An attorney who is experienced in handling personal injury cases will be better suited to assist you in presenting your evidence.

Are you ready to seek out legal assistance?

Dealing with the insurance company on your own can be risky, meaning that you could put yourself in danger of being left with insufficient financial resources to cover your losses. You don’t want that, which is why you may find it beneficial to work your case with an attorney who is experienced in handling these kinds of cases.