Many people who are the victim of negligent drivers in motor vehicle accidents question whether they should go through with contacting a personal injury lawyer. If you have been in a motor vehicle accident due to someone else’s negligent or reckless driving, it is in your best interest—and the best interest of your family—to contact a lawyer who specializes in personal injury cases. Why? Let’s look closely at why it’s important to contact a lawyer who will do their best for you.
Motor vehicle accidents result in hefty expenses
Let’s imagine that you were in a motor vehicle accident due to another negligent driver. The resulting accident can cause some hefty expenses, both due to the damage to your car and the damage to your person. Damage to your car could cost several hundred to several thousand—or more—dollars. And even if you have health insurance, it’s not unusual for hospital bills to cost thousands of dollars—and that’s assuming you don’t eventually need expensive surgery or regular physical therapy because of your insurances.
A personal injury lawyer will make sure that the responsible party covers those expenses—and not you.
The extent of the damages can be complex
When most people think about compensation for motor vehicle accidents, they think only about hospital bills and car repairs—but the economic impact of motor vehicle accidents extends well beyond those two categories. Lost wages due to missing work because of injuries, emotional strain on family members now forced to be a caregiver, loss of a quality of a life—these are all components that can be factored into how much you deserve in a settlement.
Insurance companies want to avoid paying out at all costs
Insurance companies will do everything they can to avoid paying you money. One of the most common tactics insurance companies use when one of their customers has been found at fault for causing an accident due to negligent is to offer the victim in the accident a quick settlement. These settlements can seem tempting at the time—who doesn’t want to avoid court and a lengthy claim process?—but they are usually offered if the insurance company thinks they will have to pay a much higher amount down the line. For example, let’s say you were injured in an accident and the insurance company offered you an immediate settlement for the cost of your emergency room services. If you accepted, the insurance company is waived of all responsibilities; so if, 2 weeks later you find out that the accident resulted in an injury requiring a $30,000 surgery, you will be on your own.
Personal injury lawyers are well practiced in all the tricks employed by insurance companies. A personal injury lawyer could help you make more informed decisions for claims and settlements.
