#10 MISTAKE: Not talking with an attorney before settling your personal injury case

QUESTION: Why should I talk with an attorney before settling my personal injury claim?

ANSWER: Before settling a personal injury claim, to protect your rights, it’s important to consult with an experienced attorney. Insurance adjusters are professional negotiators and their job is to minimize the settlement amounts the insurance company pays out to people who have been injured in an accident. Personal injury attorneys are also experienced in negotiation, and will ensure your rights are protected and you receive a fair settlement. Most attorneys offer no-fee, no-obligation initial consultations and provide valuable advice, which can significantly benefit the outcome of your personal injury claim.

The tenth biggest mistake you can make is not talking to an attorney before settling your personal injury case.

When you’re dealing with an adjuster for an insurance company you’re working with someone who is a professional negotiator for a living. They understand, inside and out, what they are doing by how they steer their communication with you.

No matter how friendly and courteous they are being to you, the situation is adversarial because of their role in your personal injury claim.

Their goal is to protect their employer, who is the insurance company.

One of the adjuster’s primary objectives is to minimize paying money for a claim. Part of their yearly evaluation as an insurance adjuster is based not on how much money they gave out, but on how much money they saved the insurance company.

When talking with you about settling your claim, they’re not going to start at their highest offer, they’re going to start out negotiating by offering as little as they can possibly get away with. There is an art to negotiating.

Fortunately, though, most personal injury attorneys are also experienced negotiators.

You’re not going to go to Las Vegas to play poker, never having played before, thinking you’re going to win big. If your strategy is trusting your gut about how to play cards and your plan is relying on the kindness of the dealer, you will lose money.

Personal injury claims are serious business and you want to make sure that your rights are protected, you are being fairly compensated, and being well taken care of. To make sure that you are informed and understand what you need to know about your claim, talk to a personal injury attorney.

Having a consultation with an attorney does not mean you’re hiring them. Most attorneys offer a free, no-obligation case evaluation. They’ll answer your questions so that you know what to expect, how to protect yourself and advise you on how not to be taken advantage of by the insurance company.

If you want to have the best possible outcome for your personal injury claim, before you begin negotiations with an insurance company about settling your claim, talk with a personal injury attorney. It won’t cost you anything and it will likely be of significant assistance in helping protect you and your interests.

Whether you’re our client or not, we want to be a bridge of support for you.

We’ve developed a robust library of articles and videos organized into four topics which include our responses to the personal injury claim-related questions we’re asked most often.

• Top 10 Personal Injury Claim Mistakes to Avoid
• What You Need to Know About Your Claim
• How Are My Medical Bills & Wage Loss Paid
• How to Prepare for Your Independent Medical Exam

The articles provide advice and guidelines to help you navigate each phase of the personal injury claims process. Whether we represent you or not, we are passionate about helping you protect your rights, you receiving the medical care you need to recover from your injuries, and having the information you need to avoid mistakes that can harm your personal injury claim.