When you’re involved in any type of accident and another person, or a business entity, was at fault, the law allows you to seek monetary compensation. The legal term for this compensation is “damages” and it refers to more than just your medical expenses. You’re also entitled to recover damages to help offset the costs of lost income due to missed work, property damages, your possible need for ongoing therapy, and other financial burdens the incident forced you to incur.
For this reason, carrying insurance is vital and it offers the victim in an accident a way to claim compensation without having to go through a lengthy court battle. Unfortunately, insurance representatives aren’t always fair with accident victims and often try to offer them an unfair settlement. This is especially true, if the accident victim isn’t represented by a personal injury attorney. In this case, the insurance agent will try to get the accident victim to sign off on a quick, but low, cash settlement early. Insurance companies know that, once an individual accepts a settlement, they no longer have the legal grounds to pursue further compensation.
However, when you hire a personal injury lawyer early and leave it up to him to negotiate with the insurance company, there’s a strong likelihood that the insurance company will offer a fairer settlement. An experienced lawyer, such as Hardison Wood, will know how to negotiate for a better settlement offer. An experienced lawyer will also know how to estimate the total damages in your case to help ensure you’re not left to pay long-term medical care on your own.
Insurance companies don’t always settle. Sometimes, their client doesn’t have sufficient coverage, or the company may just be looking for a way to save money. In any case, it is sometimes necessary to take the matter to civil court. If this happens in your case, you’ll be grateful to have a personal injury lawyer already working on your case. By negotiating with the insurance company in the earlier stages of your case, your attorney will already know the facts of your case. This will help him build a stronger case and prepare a strategy that will maximize your chances for a positive outcome.
If you’re worried about the added financial burden of hiring a personal injury attorney, you should be aware that your attorney won’t charge his fee up front. Personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee, which means they deduct a percentage of your award for damages as their fee. This also means the attorney doesn’t get paid, unless he wins your case. As a result, you can expect your legal advocate to work hard to earn you the settlement, or damages, you need to move on with your life.
