When you’re injured in a collision, it’s easy to file a claim with the other driver’s insurance and get the money you need for your expenses, right?
Nope, not at all. In fact, the opposite is true. Getting compensation for your accident-related losses can be a confusing, time-consuming process. To make things even more challenging, the other driver’s insurer wants to pay you as little as possible and settle the case as quickly as they can. And on top of all of this, you’re recovering from an injury.
When you’re in this position, you need a personal injury attorney because you need somebody familiar with the claim process to advocate for you. Once you’ve gone to your doctor and gotten your injury checked out, your next move should be to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. Here are five specific reasons why working with an attorney is in your best interest:
Insurance Providers Want to Settle Early
You’ve probably heard that after a collision, insurance providers want to settle claims as quickly as possible.
That’s absolutely true. And the reason why is that by settling a claim early, they can often keep their expenses low…which often means keeping you from recovering all of the damages you need to cover your injury-related expenses.
The Adjuster will Call for a Recorded Statement
After being involved in a collision, an adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company will likely call you and ask for a recorded statement. This recorded statement is official documentation of the collision and all its details—and it can be used to undermine any claim you make about your case later.
You’re under no obligation to provide a recorded statement. Additionally, you’re generally best off discussing your case with your personal injury lawyer first, then having your lawyer make the statement for you. This way, you aren’t at risk of inadvertently downplaying your injuries or saying something that can potentially hurt your claim later during a call with the adjuster.
Your Lawyer Advocates for your Health
Remember how we mentioned that individuals involved in collisions and their insurers generally want to settle as quickly as possible?
You can’t exactly tell your injuries to heal as quickly as possible.
When you work with a personal injury lawyer, your lawyer understands that recovering from injuries takes time and that it’s possible for an injury to go unnoticed for weeks or even months after a collision. This is why it’s so important to get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible after your collision—and why it’s so important that you work with a lawyer who can advocate for your health by ensuring that you have the time and resources to get all the testing and diagnoses necessary to ensure that your injuries are clearly documented.
You Could be Leaving Money on the Table
Many people who are injured in collisions don’t realize just how much compensation they can potentially recover for their losses. You might expect to recover compensation for your medical bills, but did you know that, depending on your case, you can also recover damages for mental and emotional anguish and out-of-pocket expenses for things like mobility aids and in-home care services while you recover? You can also receive compensation for lost wages due to taking time off to recover. Under certain circumstances, this compensation also includes projected future wages that now, because of your injury, you won’t be able to earn because you won’t be able to perform your job duties.
Your personal injury lawyer knows this. And by working with one, you can ensure that you don’t overlook a single expense or accept anything less than exactly what you need.
Work with an Experienced Alexandria Personal Injury Firm
When you’re attempting to recover damages while you’re recovering from an injury, it’s in your best interest to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Don’t wait to start working with an attorney who will advocate for you—the sooner you begin working on your claim, the easier it will be to pursue compensation and feel better.
Contact our firm today to schedule your free case consultation with a member of the Alvarez Law Firm team. We’re here to answer any questions you have and empower you to make the best decisions for your unique case.