The short answer to the question posed by the title is likely “yes.” If you are taking the time to ask yourself this question after an accident, it’s because you recognize that you need help from a car crash law firm in Lynnwood. Of course, it will depend on the situation, but a good general rule is that if you have an injury that hasn’t been resolved with medical treatment and it has been weeks since the accident, you should consider hiring a personal injury attorney to help you with your claim.
If you are still not sure whether you need an attorney for your injury case, consider the points below and how they relate to your situation.
Insurance adjusters process hundreds of claims daily
One of the primary reasons for hiring a car crash law firm in Lynnwood is that when you file a claim with an insurance company, chances are you are walking into an area where you have little or no experience. On top of that, you are negotiating with an insurance adjuster who has received thorough training in the art of negotiation and settling insurance claims for as little money as possible. This means the deck is essentially stacked against you, but you can help level the playing field by hiring an experienced auto accident attorney to advocate on your behalf and deal with the insurance company for you.
Insurance adjusters are working for the insurer
Another thing to keep in mind is that despite how willing they seem to “help” you and how pleasant they may be, the adjuster is not working for you. In most cases, he or she does not have any obligation to act in your best interests. This can be confusing, especially when you run into problems with your injury claim that come from your own insurance company. This is because even though you have paid your monthly premiums without fail, the job of the adjuster is to keep the costs for the insurance company as low as possible, even if this is not good news for you. Because of this, hiring a personal injury attorney for your claim is often a wise move. Your attorney will make sure you are protected and that the insurance company is adjusting your claim in accordance with federal and state guidelines.
Your injury is long-term and/or disabling
When you have an injury that will last for a long time and will require medical treatment in the future, that needs to be considered in your claim. The same holds true if the accident left you with a permanent disability. As mentioned, the insurance company wants to pay as little as possible, so they may play down the severity of your injury and the kind of care you’ll need in the future for it.
An attorney protects your case
There are many ways you can hurt your own case, and this includes simply doing nothing. In some situations, not taking action – such as failing to follow up on a referral or complete a course of treatment – can be equally bad or even worse than doing something you shouldn’t. When you have an attorney on your side to guide you, he or she can help you avoid giving the insurance company any ammunition in their goal of giving you the lowest settlement possible in your case.
Disputed liability is a red flag
One of the most surefire signs that you will need an attorney is when you hear the other insurer involved is disputing who is responsible, or at fault, for your injuries. Even if the other driver apologized to you at the accident scene, they may have changed course when they spoke to their insurance company and realized how much their own premiums will go up. A dispute over liability really complicates claim resolution, so having an attorney who knows how to prove fault here is crucial.
When you hire a personal injury attorney, he or she will deal with the insurance companies so you can focus on recovering instead. Go with a seasoned attorney you feel confident in so you can take some stress out of the experience.
