Insurance companies advertise relatively aggressively. Most people can’t watch a television show or commute to work without exposure to at least one insurance commercial. Catchy jingles, clever slogans and comedic mascots make people think of insurance companies as friendly or even generous.
Many people convince themselves that they can handle a large car insurance claim on their own. They expect the insurance company to be reasonable and fair. If the adjuster reviewing their claim offers a settlement, they might think that accepting the settlement is the best option.
However, insurance companies market themselves the way that they do to lull consumers into a false sense of comfort. Like any other for-profit business entity, insurance organizations want to optimize income while minimizing operational costs. Many people do decide to work with lawyers when reviewing car crash settlement offers to better ensure that insurance companies don’t take advantage of them.
How can a lawyer help?
An attorney assisting with a car crash insurance claim can take the pressure off of the claimant from the beginning of the process. They can review the police report and the policy documents of the driver who caused the crash. From there, they can advise the party pursuing the claim about the maximum amount of coverage available through insurance and the best options for covering their costs.
Lawyers can help people estimate the long-term financial consequences of an injury and other car crash expenses. They can also review any settlement offer made by an insurance professional. They can compare it with the estimated total cost of the crash and the policy limits that apply.
Their guidance can help the person in need of compensation determine whether the settlement is reasonable or not. If it is not, the lawyer assisting with the claim can counter the offer and manage the negotiations on behalf of their client. They can potentially use their negotiation skills to obtain a more reasonable amount of compensation. They can also recognize scenarios where insurance professionals may have broken the law and when litigation might be necessary to fully cover crash costs.
The average person dealing with a damaged vehicle and noteworthy injuries after a crash can easily become overwhelmed by all of the different issues. The assistance of a lawyer allows an injured person to focus on their recovery and handling day-to-day life instead of learning insurance and handling the intense, potentially unpleasant insurance communication.
Retaining a lawyer when pursuing car crash injury compensation can help people maximize the compensation that they receive while simultaneously protecting them from common pitfalls, like unfair settlement offers. Those who have the right assistance are in a better position to review and respond to a car insurance settlement offer.