This question sounds basic, but it is much more complex than you think. Personal injury cases can quickly become muddled because they usually involve multiple parties with competing interests. If you are not well-represented, you can easily get taken advantage of.
Let’s take a closer look at how this can happen and how legal counsel can prevent an unsatisfactory outcome.
Insurance companies will try to settle your case as soon as possible after an accident or trauma has occurred. There are several reasons for this:
- The confusion after an accident allows them to weigh the settlement in their favor; not yours.
- They can gauge how much you know about the law and the value of your claim and then use that to their advantage.
- They can make it sound like settling your claim as soon as possible is in your best interest.
The ultimate goal of these ploys is to get you to settle your claim for less than it’s worth so the insurance company doesn’t have to pay out the full amount.
Your best defense after an accident or injury is:
- Do not sign anything, even if you are being pressured to settle;
- Retain legal counsel; and
- Find out what damages you are really entitled to – the answer may surprise you.
The statutes vary by state, but personal injury isn’t just about physical pain and medical bills. It’s defined as: anything that brings a person physical or emotional harm, including mental anguish. This harm could be intentional or unintentional; you still have a legal standing. The harm also extends to loved ones who are “injured” by the debilitating condition or death of an accident victim.
These accidents could involve:
· Slip and falls
· Work-related injury
· Motor vehicle accidents
· Motorcycle crashes
· Truck accidents
· Negligence and/or intentional injury by assault
As long as you can prove either negligence or intent, you may be entitled to:
· Medical bills
· Lost wages
· Loss of wages
· Additional damages for the emotional stress and pain inflicted
These are just a few of the examples used in personal injury cases. The important thing is the vital role a lawyer plays in a case like this; especially if that case goes to court.
A personal injury lawsuit can get very personal, indeed. It is the insurance company’s goal to shirk responsibility wherever possible. The more blame they can place on you; the less they have to pay in damages. Things can get ugly fast. Without proper representation, you run the risk of losing any claim to financial compensation. The court could find merit and favor with the provider and leave you out in the cold.
This is a situation where attorney involvement directly affects the likelihood that your efforts will pay off. Insure your success by hiring Stockard, Johnston, Brown, Netardus & Doyle, P.C. in Amarillo, Texas. Contact us today.