Negotiating with Insurance Companies: Why a Lawyer Is Essential
If you were involved in a car accident, then you need to contact a car accident injury lawyer in San Antonio to help you recover compensation. Having an attorney to help you negotiate with the insurance company is essential so you can maximize your chances of recovering a fair settlement.
Why a Car Accident Injury Lawyer in San Antonio Is Essential for Negotiating with Insurance Companies
To Calculate Your Damages Before Negotiating
When you’re seeking compensation, it’s important to know the value of your damages so you don’t accept a low-ball offer from the insurance company. Types of damages you may be compensated for include your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You’ll need to know the value of all of your economic damages so you can accurately calculate your non-economic damages. You also need to know the formula for calculating the latter.
Avoid asking the insurance company for a sum that’s too high. On the other hand, if you undervalue your damages, then the insurance company will happily pay out a sum that’s too low. This is why it’s important to have your lawyer help you value your damages before negotiations begin. Visit this page to get in contact with an experienced attorney who can help you before, during, and after the negotiations.
To Help You Avoid Being Taken Advantage Of
Part of an insurance adjuster’s job is to try to pay out as little as possible for each claim. They generally try to take advantage of your lack of knowledge, and they may use scare tactics to get you to settle for a low sum. Experienced attorneys know what’s a scare tactic and what isn’t, so they can dodge these tactics and negotiate a fair sum for you. They deal with insurance companies all the time and are very familiar with what adjusters do.
To Handle Disputes
The negotiation process doesn’t always go smoothly. The insurance claims adjuster may dispute your claim. They may attempt to say you have no claim at all, or they might try to undervalue your claim based on biased or incomplete information.
Your attorney will combat disputes by gathering evidence that supports your claim. The evidence should demonstrate why you’re entitled to compensation if the insurance adjuster believes you aren’t. Your attorney will also gather evidence to show why you should receive the sum you’re hoping to recover.
To Represent You in Court
Even with an attorney at your side, sometimes you can’t settle with the insurance company through negotiations alone. You may have to go to court, and you’ll most definitely need an attorney to represent you at trial.
Litigation is complicated, so you’ll need your attorney to help you through it, and you’ll need them to present your case before the judge and jury. They’ll need to demonstrate why you’re entitled to compensation to cover your damages. They’ll also need to prove that you weren’t liable for the car accident. If you were partially at fault, then your attorney will need to prove you were less than 51% liable.
Should You Ever Speak to the Insurance Company?
It’s best to avoid talking to the insurance company right from the start. The company will most likely call you to ask for a statement and get your details, but answering the call may negatively impact your claim. The claims adjuster may try to use the information you give against you.
What to Do If the Insurance Company Calls You
Don’t Talk About Your Well-Being
Don’t tell the insurance adjuster that you’re feeling okay or that you’re uninjured. Some car accident injuries don’t make themselves known right away. If you say you’re feeling fine, then the insurance company may use this statement against you during negotiations down the line.
Only Tell Them What They Know
When the insurance company’s representative asks you a question, answer that question without elaborating. Don’t tell the insurance adjuster things about your health, your mental well-being, or the damage to your property. Don’t tell them about new evidence your attorney has gathered to support your case. Stick to the facts that the company already knows.
Tell Them You Don’t Know
If you don’t know exactly what happened to cause the accident, then that’s okay. Don’t tell the insurance company what you think may have happened, and don’t make guesses when they ask questions you don’t know the answers to. It’s always okay to say “I don’t know” to an insurance company. They can’t hold your lack of knowledge against you.
Having an attorney by your side when negotiating with an insurance company is vital so you can recover the fairest sum possible. You’ll need your attorney’s assistance when calculating your damages, and they can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. You’ll also need an attorney to settle disputes and represent you at trial, if applicable.
