Being involved in a serious car accident can be traumatizing. You may be dealing with physical injuries while simultaneously coming to terms with the fact that you nearly died. On top of that, you now have to deal with police reports, insurance claims and other details that may seem comparatively insignificant.
When an insurance adjuster offers you a deal to settle your case, it could be tempting to accept and move on with your life. However, accepting an offer too quickly can cost you in the long run. In today’s post, we provide three reasons to hold off on taking an insurance company’s first offer:
- You need the full picture. While scrapes, bruises and broken bones may be easy to discover immediately following an accident, other injuries – such as internal bleeding or whiplash – may not show up until later on. In addition, if your injuries take you out of work for an extended period, you should receive compensation for the time you were unable to earn a living. If you settle too soon, you could miss out on compensation for such damages.
- You need to be mentally astute. Following an accident, you may be in shock or have a concussion. You could also be on strong medication to manage your pain. Any of these factors can compromise your decision-making ability. Therefore, you shouldn’t accept an offer until you’re clear-headed.
- You need a level playing field. When an insurance adjuster offers you a settlement, the terms are in the company’s best interest – not yours. Additionally, if you’ve never been involved in an accident before, you may be unfamiliar with the process – and unprepared to effectively advocate for your own best interests. Therefore, having an experienced car accident injury attorney on your side to advocate on your behalf can be critical.
In the wake of a serious car accident, dealing with insurance claims and adjusters may be too much to handle. Your lawyer can take that weight off of your shoulders and still make sure you get the full compensation you deserve.
The post Following a car crash, it can be worth talking to a lawyer before settling. appeared first on Joubert Law Firm.