If you have been injured in a car accident, you are not alone in wondering, “Should I hire an attorney to represent me?” or “Should I just try to deal with the insurance companies on my own?”
For many people, hiring an attorney seems like a daunting task. They’ve never talked to a lawyer, and they don’t want their claim to become adversarial (or expensive) or take any longer than it absolutely has to. They don’t want to let the insurance companies take advantage of them, but they are hesitant about hiring someone to help them protect their legal rights.
Unfortunately, many of the reasons that accident victims ultimately choose not to hire a lawyer simply are not based in reality. Good lawyers do what they do because they sincerely care about their clients, and because they want to help their clients recover maximum compensation as quickly as possible.
In fact, not only will the right lawyer most likely be able to help you recover more than you could have expected (assuming you have a valid claim), but he or she will be able to do so quickly while helping you get the medical treatment you need and allowing you to focus on your physical and emotional recovery.
The Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer for Your Car Accident Claim
With this in mind, here are three reasons why it makes sense to hire a lawyer instead of dealing with the insurance companies on your own:
1. You Need to Know How Much You’ve Lost.
Individuals who suffer serious injuries in car accidents often experience losses far greater than they realize. Most people tally up their medical expenses, repair bills and maybe their lost wages, but they overlook all of the other critical aspects of their claims to compensation. If you have been seriously injured in a car accident, you could be entitled to compensation for:
- Outstanding medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost future earning capacity
- Repair bills and damage to items of personal property
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of consortium and companionship
Without the help of an experienced attorney, you simply won’t know what is a fair settlement in your case.
2. The Insurance Adjusters Aren’t On Your Side.
While they may act like they are there to help, ultimately insurance adjusters get paid by…the insurance companies. Their job is to protect their employers by limiting the amount that policyholders and third-party claimants recover for their losses. If you receive a settlement offer without legal representation, you can be almost certain that it is for less than you deserve.
3. You Need to Avoid Mistakes that Could Harm Your Claim.
Finally, in order to protect your rights, you need to avoid mistakes that could harm your claim. For example, one of the tactics insurance adjusters use is to try to get accident victims to give recorded statements. The purpose of taking recorded statements is to use victims’ own words against them.
Another common mistake among car accident victims who do not hire a lawyer is to settle too soon. Once you settle, you cannot seek additional compensation. When you don’t know how much you’ve lost and the insurance companies are working against you, you simply cannot afford to try to pursue your claim without experienced and aggressive legal representation.
Speak With One of Our Experienced Destin Car Accident Lawyers Today
The attorneys at Powell, Powell & Powell, P.A. represent car accident victims in Destin, FL and throughout Northwest Florida. If you would like to speak with an attorney about your insurance claim, call (850) 682-2757 or send us a message online to schedule a free consultation today.