Don’t Go it Alone: Why You’ll Receive A Larger Injury Settlement with a Lawyer in Your Corner

The insurance company wants to negotiate directly with you — not an attorney.  They know that dealing with you means a smaller settlement payment.  A study by the Insurance Research Council found that accident victims who tried to settle their own claims received an average of 3.5 times less than those who engaged an attorney to fight for them.  Here’s how a qualified personal injury attorney can help you get more for your claim.

What Can Be Recovered?  

The law generally holds that if you are injured by the negligence of another, you should be put back in the position you were in before the accident.  This is typically accomplished through the payment of monetary damages.  The most common types of damages are:

• Bills from the emergency room, your personal doctors, chiropractors and anyone else who provided medical treatment for your injuries.   
• Lost income:  Were you forced to miss work due to your injuries?  You should be compensated for this lost income. 
• Pain and Suffering: These are damages to compensate for the diminished quality of life caused by your injuries, such as chronic pain and being unable to take part in certain activities that you previously enjoyed. 

The Insurance Company Wants to Pay You as Little as Possible 

The insurance company may argue that not all of your medical treatment was necessary.  They may also tell you that you should have returned to work sooner, or that your injuries don’t entitle you to any pain and suffering damages.  Remember that their goal is to turn a profit.  Their employees (adjusters) are trained in tactics that will result in the lowest possible settlement.  They know that without an attorney, you will eventually have no choice but to accept their offer. 

Leveling the Playing Field 

Here are a few of the things that will happen once you engage an attorney:   

• The mere threat of a lawsuit will make the insurance company value your claim differently.  The prospect of legal fees and the potential for a large jury award will likely increase the settlement value of your claim.   
• Your attorney will know the insurance company’s tricks for reducing the value of your claim: he or she deals with insurance companies all day, every day. 
• Your attorney knows your legal rights and knows which motions to file and which evidence to present to prove your case and to counter the insurance company’s arguments.  

So why play by the insurance company’s rules?  Turn the tables on them by calling an experienced personal injury lawyer. To schedule a free consultation today, call the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates at 855-768-8845. The lawyer you hire does make a difference!