If you have suffered a serious accident-related injury, you may be tempted to accept an initial offer from an insurance company. Insurance companies sometimes offer thousands of dollars to resolve an injury claim, but you should be wary of these offers—especially if you have not consulted with an attorney. The initial offer from an insurance company will often not cover all of your damages. If you sign a waiver when you accept this offer, you may be barred from obtaining any future compensation.
Unfortunately, accident victims can sometimes fall prey to these negotiating tactics by insurance companies. There is, however, a simple way to protect yourself and defend your legal rights. It is a best practice to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney, like the ones at Brian D. Guralnick Injury Lawyers, to make sure you don’t settle for less than you should.
Read more: Avoid 10 Common Insurance Company Tricks
You shouldn’t settle without consulting with an attorney
Insurance companies are typically large, for-profit businesses. The goal of an insurance company is to maximize its profits and minimize its exposure when their insured has caused injury to someone else. For this reason, finding a personal injury lawyer who understands how insurance companies operate is important.
You don’t have to take the first offer extended by an insurance company. Here are several reasons why you should hold off on dealing with an insurance company all by yourself:
You might be entitled to more money
When you are injured in an accident, you may need immediate medical attention or a prolonged medical treatment and therapy regiment. Depending on the complexity of your injuries, it may be hard to determine the full extent of your claim’s value without consulting with an experienced lawyer. You don’t have to trust an insurance company’s valuation of your injuries. Insurance companies might be motivated to offer you a quick settlement before you have had a chance to work with an attorney or properly investigate the true value of your personal injury claim.
You and your lawyer need time to work together to evaluate all evidence related to your injuries. This might include medical records, expert witness reports, investigatory reports prepared by law enforcement, and statements of witnesses. Once you have gathered all the necessary information, you will be in a better position to determine the value of your claim. At Brian D. Guralnick Injury Lawyers, we understand the tactics used by insurance companies, and we take our time to evaluate all relevant evidence to put our clients in the best position to pursue the compensation they deserve.
You might be injured worse than you think
After a serious accident, it can sometimes take months to figure out the extent of your injuries. It can also take months to determine what treatments and therapy to utilize in your recovery process. You may need surgery, physical therapy, or both to get your life back to normal. These medical treatments, while necessary, are expensive.
You might receive expensive and unexpected medical bills several months after you receive treatment. In some circumstances, it can take almost a year to receive a medical bill for your treatment. If you accept an early offer from an insurance company, you might not have enough money left to cover the ongoing costs of your necessary medical treatment. Don’t let this happen to you.
The insurance company’s offer might not account for all damages
The value insurance companies assign to personal injury claims doesn’t always account for the full scope of damages that might be available to you. For example, many settlement offers from insurance companies fail to account for mental or emotional distress. Similarly, insurance companies might not offer you any money for the pain and suffering you endured due to your injury.
Were you or a loved one injured in an accident?
The law offices of Brian D. Guralnick help Florida residents and tourists seek compensation and Demand More? for their injuries.
If you handle negotiations with an insurance company yourself, you might not receive compensation for all the damages available to you. On the other hand, when you work with a personal injury attorney, like Brian and his team, you can trust that your lawyer will seek all available compensation.
Your claim is likely undervalued by the insurance company
Remember, an insurance company is motivated to pay out as little as possible. One way that insurance companies accomplish this goal is by undervaluing personal injury claims. An insurance company undervalues claims by offering less than what your case is actually worth. It is a good bet that the first offer from an insurance company is probably less than what your case is worth.
If you are dealing with an insurance company after an accident, make sure you have someone fighting on your side. Don’t let an insurance company delay your payment, deny your coverage, or misrepresent the terms of your insurance benefit. Call Brian D. Guralnick Injury Lawyers today for a free case consultation. We understand the underhanded tactics used by sophisticated insurance companies, and we will fight to ensure that you don’t have to accept an undervalued settlement offer.
