Why You Should Never Settle a Car Accident Claim on Your Own

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Being in a car accident is a horrendous and traumatic life event. Even if you were able to walk away from it with minor or no injuries at all, there is still a chance that you might experience some psychological issues in the future. Whatever the extent of your health problems might be, you have the right to ask for compensation.

The main focus is for you to get better but don’t let someone else’s negligent behavior bring you to the brink of financial ruin. After all, medical bills can be quite costly. Although you are not required to have a legal representation in this situation, having someone with lots of experience when dealing with insurance companies is certainly very beneficial.

Let’s take a look at why you shouldn’t go through this procedure without a lawyer at your side.

Not Knowing How Things Work

If you’re not a lawyer yourself, there is a good chance you will not understand how this process works. This will leave you vulnerable to the tactics of insurance adjusters. Let’s be honest, they are in the business of making money, and they will try to convince you to settle for as little as possible and as quickly as possible.

They are trained negotiators, and you are not. No matter how friendly or understanding they might seem, you should never forget that their and your interest don’t align. They are trying to protect their company.

That’s why it’s important to have someone who will look out for you and your interests. The professional who has already handled cases like these will know just how much you should ask as compensation and what you can expect. They will explain to you all the stages of the procedure and what has to be done. They will also warn you about the adjusters, and what to do in case they contact you.

Settling for Less

The legal expert knows the inner workings of insurance companies as well as their strategies. As stated by the New Jersey car accident lawyer, adjusters will protect their company’s profits while your attorney would try to get the maximum compensation for you. Also, your representative would conduct a thorough investigation, assess your physical, emotional, and financial harm, and help you with all the paperwork.

They will also tell you to never accept the first offer presented to you as it’s probably not what you deserve. Most people in these situations can rush as they want to get the money to pay their medical bills or repair their vehicle. Although understandable, this is not the right course of action. You might not still know the real consequences of that unfortunate event, and you might find yourself unable to pay the bills afterward.

Your Words Can Jeopardize Your Case

This is a very simple yet extremely important advice. It’s one of the first things your attorney will recommend you to do if someone from the insurance company contacts you. When they call, simply refer them to your legal representative. Don’t talk to them and don’t answer any of their questions. Anything you say can be later used against you to undermine your claims. Also, don’t give a recorded statement, and don’t put your signature on any piece of paper presented by them, no matter how good it sounds.

Having to Deal with Additional Stress

Being in a car crash is stressful enough, but when you add possible health and financial difficulties that come with this type of accident, your stress level will significantly increase. Given the situation, having to go through all this and deal with insurance adjusters on your own might bring you over the edge.

A personal injury attorney will take a significant load off your back. They will handle everything they can on their own while also updating you on a regular basis. This way, you will constantly be in the loop, but with more time to concentrate on recovery and getting back on your feet. All in all, you will feel much calmer knowing that someone out there is working on your behalf and fighting to get you what you deserve.

If you go into a battle against an insurance company after your car accident, you will probably make some serious mistakes. Those wrong decisions can cost you a lot in terms of your compensation. Having a personal injury attorney on your side will not only significantly increase your chances of winning and getting what you deserve. Not to mention it will also prevent your stress levels from sky-rocketing.

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Samantha Acuna is a writer based in San Francisco, CA. Her work has been featured in The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur.com, and Yahoo Small Business.