4 Risks of Dealing With the Insurance Company Alone After an Accident

 Posted on April 19, 2022 in Car Accidents

Insurance companies have one goal after a car accident: to settle your claim for the lowest dollar amount possible. They are quite skilled at this. The insurance company representative who calls you shortly after your crash may sound caring and friendly, but this does not mean that they will actually be able to help you. You are talking to a professional who is likely to be trained in high-pressure tactics designed to force you into taking an unfairly low settlement. When you have been injured and are still recovering, it may seem convenient for you to simply take a settlement offer and be done with it. However, this is rarely as good an idea as it might seem at the time. Your best bet is to work with an attorney who is prepared to advocate for you and protect your interests. 

Why You Should Have Legal Representation After a Car Crash

There are risks associated with trying to deal with insurance alone after you have been hurt in a car accident. An attorney who has more experience working out fair settlements that fully compensate accident victims can take steps to protect you.

The risks of handling a potential settlement without legal assistance include: 

• Low offers - Insurance companies are very good at making settlement offers that sound great at first. However, these settlements are almost never as good as they sound. Insurance companies almost never make an offer that actually covers all of your expenses. 
• Unknown expenses - If you agree to a settlement too soon after the accident, you might not even have a complete picture of what all your expenses associated with the accident will be. You may know what your emergency room or urgent care bill looks like, but you may not yet know things like whether you will need physical therapy or further medical interventions that could become costly. 
• Your mindset - When you are in pain and tired trying to recover from an injury, you might not be mentally in the best place to engage in important negotiations. You might be upset with the entire situation and ready to “get it over with.” It can be difficult to stand up to an insurance representative during this time. 
• Incomplete accounting - A lawyer will know exactly which expenses and costs you should be compensated for after a car accident. It can be very difficult to gauge what your pain and suffering or emotional trauma are worth. When you work with an attorney, you can be confident that every possible type of damages has been accounted for. 

Aside from that, you do not need the added stress of trying to handle high-pressure negotiations on top of everything else. 

Call a Dallas County Car Accident Lawyer

Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. is highly skilled at helping injured car accident victims secure settlements that account for everything. Our Irving car accident attorneys are well-prepared to take on the insurance company on your behalf. Call 214-221-5800 for a free consultation. 

Source:

https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/how-to-negotiate-with-car-insurance-adjusters