Using A Lawyer Means Better Insurance Settlements

 Posted on January 05, 2017 in Personal Injury

If you've been in an accident, you must decide whether to get a lawyer's help in making your claim. Insurance adjusters want you to settle your claim without getting legal help. But settling too fast with an adjuster usually means you won't get all the money you should. That's why if you're in an accident, you should get a lawyer's help, even when (especially when) the adjuster is anxious to pay you a modest amount to close your matter quickly.

When you make a claim to an insurance company, they assign it to an "adjuster." Adjusters work for the insurance company, not you. Their job is to close the file on your claim without paying too much money.

Many adjusters are polite to talk with. They handle many claims so they may understand the problems you face. But whether the adjuster is pleasant or not, remember that his or her job is to act in the insurance company's best interests, not yours.

After an accident, the adjuster may tell you a quick settlement will get you money faster. The adjuster may tell about his or her own experience and say with confidence what your claim is worth. The adjuster may try to talk you out of calling a lawyer, by saying a lawyer would cost you money or can't get your benefit increased.

Adjusters say these things because the insurance company can close the file on your claim for less money if you don't have help from a lawyer. The adjuster may try to persuade you to accept a small payment and sign a "Release," even though you don't yet know the full extent of your claim. This is especially common in accidents, where many physical injuries don't show up until much later.

Using a lawyer almost always results in a higher settlement than you'd get by relying on the adjuster. Recently, a car insurer tried to settle an accident claim for a small amount of money. After the policyholder hired a lawyer, the insurer settled the claim for over 10 times the original offer.

If you've been in an accident, seek a lawyer's help when dealing with the insurance company. Using a lawyer makes recovering damages easier, and you'll likely get more money. Never forget that insurance adjusters - no matter what they say - work for the insurance company, not you.