500+ five star reviewsIt is not uncommon for people to be unsure of what to do after a car accident. Insurance companies are often the first contact you call after you are in an accident.
Although the insurance company’s job is paying for your damages, they also try to save money on insurance claim payouts.
Dealing with the insurance company on your own can be a tricky situation, especially if you’re at fault for the accident. In most cases, whether the accident is your fault or not, it is a good idea to have an injury attorney to speak to the insurance agents assigned to your claim.
When hiring a Chattanooga personal injury attorney, such as Tricia Dennis and Lupton Winningham, all aspects of your insurance claim are handled by the attorney. Hiring an attorney protects you from any potential problems and being taken advantage of.
In contrast to hiring an attorney, insurance agents try to get you to make a decision right away. This is unfortunately how injured victims are manipulated into agreeing on a lower settlement. In the end, victims of a car accident end up settling your claim for far less money than what you should be compensated for.
The Insurance Company Is Not Obligated To Be Fair Or Fast-acting With Your Insurance Claim Payout
The other driver’s insurance company only has an obligation to their insurer. They have no responsibility to treat you well or address your needs. Instead, they may even ignore you completely.
Unfortunately, there is virtually nothing stopping an insurance company from doing this. They may offer you a settlement far lower than what your case is worth, delay payments, and even deny your claim. It can be difficult to stick up for yourself in these situations.
Insurance Agents Will Almost Always Low-Ball Your Compensation
It’s important to remember that insurance adjusting agents see cases like yours every day. Insurance agents can generally estimate the worth of a claim by reading the facts. They also know how to negotiate with victims who are not represented by an attorney.
Unfortunately, the insurance agent’s experience in working on so many claims enables them to get victims to agree to as little as possible for compensation for their claim.
This sometimes means that insurance adjusters will take advantage of victims if they can get away with it while paying less on a claim. Having an experienced personal injury attorney on your side can prevent you from having to deal with insurance agents altogether. Get the compensation you deserve for personal injuries and vehicle damages.
You do not have to use the body shop that the insurance company recommends.
Some insurance companies will tell you that you must use a particular body shop to receive compensation for your property damage. In most situations, this simply isn’t the case.
In fact, you may want to avoid the shop the insurance company recommends because they may undervalue your vehicle or provide decreased estimates on how much it will cost to get things fixed. If you have a body shop that you like better, it may be a good idea to use them instead.
You likely do not want the first settlement offer.
In most situations, the first settlement offer is an opening point. It gets the bargaining process going. However, some victims will take the first offer, so the insurance company may try to low ball you first, just to see if it works. Unfortunately, some victims see mounting medical bills, vehicle repair bills, and time away from work, so they are eager to accept anything the insurance company will give them.
Getting an experienced personal injury lawyer can help you determine what your case is really worth. Your attorney will also help you get the most out of your car accident. After all, you were injured, and you deserve to be compensated for your losses. Contact Dennis & Winningham Law online now.
