Why Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer Levels the Playing Field with Insurance Companies

Following an accident, many people think they only need to consult a personal injury lawyer if they’re considering filing a lawsuit. However, getting an insurance claim approved and paid out is often more challenging than you’d think. Having the help of a personal injury lawyer can expedite the process.

Here’s a closer look at why it’s so important to approach insurance companies on equal footing and how working with a personal injury lawyer can improve your chances of obtaining a fair settlement.

Why is It Important to Level the Playing Field?

In an ideal world, you’d be able to submit an insurance claim after a car accident and promptly receive payment. While this does happen in some cases, insurance companies often prioritize their profits over their contracts with policyholders.

Many insurers underpay, delay, and deny claims in hopes that the injured claimant will get frustrated and accept an unfairly low settlement. As a consumer, it can be difficult to figure out how to push back against these kinds of tactics.

Personal injury attorneys deal with insurance companies daily, and they understand how to deal with unfair claim delays and denials. For this reason, insurers are often far more willing to negotiate with attorneys than with consumers.

The insurance companies know that, whereas an injured person may give up if they’re dissatisfied with the results of the negotiation, their attorney can take the insurer to court. The bottom line? When a personal injury lawyer handles your claim on your behalf, you’re far more likely to receive a reasonable settlement.

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Strengthen Your Case

Personal injury attorneys’ negotiation skills are important, but negotiation isn’t the only way a lawyer can put you on equal footing with the insurance company. Unlike the insurer, your lawyer represents your best interests. At each stage of the claims process, they’ll be there to build and support your case by carrying out the following duties:

Investigating and Gathering Evidence

When you’re filing an insurance claim for an injury, the insurance company isn’t just going to take your word for what happened. You need evidence, and an experienced personal injury attorney can thoroughly investigate your case to gather it.

The exact type of evidence needed will vary based on your circumstances, but your attorney might try to recover the following:

• The official police report for the accident
• Traffic camera, dashcam, or surveillance footage (if available)
• Statements from witnesses
• Physical evidence from the scene (like tripping hazards or broken vehicle parts)

Seeking medical attention should always be your priority after sustaining an injury. However, it’s wise to consult a personal injury lawyer as soon as reasonably possible. Evidence tends to disappear over time, so the sooner you reach out, the sooner your attorney can start investigating.

Identifying All Liable Parties

In some personal injury cases, it’s easy to determine who’s at fault. In others, it’s far less straightforward. For instance, car accidents involving commercial trucks or rideshare vehicles are often complex from an insurance standpoint. Multiple parties may bear partial liability, and each party will have a separate insurance policy.

If you aren’t sure where to file your claim (or whether you need to file multiple claims), a personal injury attorney can provide some much-needed clarity and guidance.

Valuing Your Claim

Unless you’re a legal professional yourself, it’s next to impossible to accurately determine what your case may be worth. The insurance companies know this, which is why they sometimes offer extremely low settlements early on.

Some injury victims accept these settlements because they don’t know the true value of their claim. By the time they realize their payout was unfairly low, it’s too late to pursue further compensation.

If you have a personal injury lawyer managing your case, they’ll take the time to calculate the damages you’re entitled to. As a general rule, you should always talk to a personal injury lawyer before accepting any insurance settlement offer.

Handling All Necessary Paperwork

Filing an insurance claim for a serious injury can be more complicated than you think. Even a minor error could lead to a delay or a rejection, and when you’re unable to work and have medical bills piling up, every day without help adds more stress.

With an attorney preparing and filing your claim documents, you’ll be far less likely to hit snags or miss important deadlines.

Communicating With the Insurance Company

Insurers aren’t your allies. When you communicate with them, they’ll be paying close attention to anything that could undermine your case.

Even seemingly benign statements like “I’m feeling better today” could be used as “evidence” that your injuries aren’t as severe as you claim. When you’re just trying to heal, worrying about accidentally sabotaging your case can cause unnecessary mental strain.

When you have dedicated legal representation, your attorney will handle all interactions with the insurance company for you, leaving you to focus on your recovery.

Negotiating a Fair Settlement

If insurance adjusters were hoping to underpay or unfairly delay your claim, they may think twice if you have a lawyer. Insurers know that personal injury lawyers can see right through bad-faith tactics.

This doesn’t mean that negotiating a fair settlement is easy, however. Insurance companies have their own highly trained lawyers, and their goal is to ensure that their clients pay as little as possible. Settlement negotiations can take a significant amount of time, but most personal injury cases are settled outside of court.

If the insurance company is unwilling to consider a fair settlement, your attorney may file a lawsuit on your behalf. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean your case will be decided in a trial. Going to court is expensive and time-consuming, so many insurers are more willing to negotiate once a lawsuit has been filed.

Qualified Legal Assistance Is Vital After an Injury

Seeking legal help after suffering a serious injury is generally a good idea. Keep in mind, however, that personal injury lawyers aren’t interchangeable. Before deciding to work with a particular personal injury law firm, do some research and schedule a free consultation to learn more.

In the legal world (and the world of insurance claims), nothing is guaranteed. But when you select a lawyer with a track record of success in cases like yours, you’ll be far more likely to recover the compensation you deserve.