Immediately
after being seriously injured in an accident, you are "thrown" into an
adversarial legal system. In other words, the insurance company
representing the party at fault for the accident has in place a team of
adjustors, investigators and attorneys who are working against you
seeking to pay as little as possible to settle your claim.
Many
accident victims, already in distressed physical and financial
circumstances, understandably choose to delay the "hassles" involved in
selecting and hiring a personal injury attorney. Others having had a
"bad experience" with an attorney (i.e. divorce) or simply do not like
or trust attorneys on "general principles," attempt to represent their
own legal interests.
The
bottom line reality is considering the
legalities and complexities of the established system for compensating
accidents victims, the retaining of a qualified Personal Injury
attorney is a "necessary evil" to "level the playing
field" and to ensure that you receive maximum compensation for
your injuries.
The
following are some common sense observations to assist you in answering
the question "Do I need an attorney?"
TOP TEN REASONS WHY ACCIDENT
VICTIMS NEED TO RETAIN A QUALIFIED PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE AFTER BEING INJURED
10. After an accident, while you are still receiving
treatment for your injuries, the party at fault in your accident has
notified their insurance company. The insurance company adjustors and
investigators are experienced and they recognize the importance of
immediately investigating and "processing" accident sites.
9. The insurance company is under no legal obligation to
inform you of your legal rights. In fact, insurance companies can and
frequently do, make fraudulent statements regarding your rights
without being subject to any legal or financial penalties.
8. Every insurance company employs experienced defense
attorneys who "operate behind the scenes, whose sole responsibility is
to protect the financial interests of the insurance company.
7. Insurance companies are in business to make money, and
the less they pay on claims, the greater their profit margin.
6. Any statements made to insurance company adjustors, can
and will be used in court to minimize your recovery.
5. Insurance company adjustors are trained to take
advantage of the fact that claimants have no knowledge or experience
in determining the fair value of their claim.
4. Considering that attorney fees are 100% contingent upon
your recovery, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by
hiring a qualified Personal Injury attorney as soon as practical after
being injured in an accident.
3. How many insurance company adjustors do you think
received promotions or increases in salary after bragging" to their
supervisors how much money they pay to "deserving" claimants.
2. Many accident victims attempting to avoid paying legal
fees try to represent themselves in their dealings with the insurance
company and call an attorney only after they realize that they are
"over their heads." Unfortunately, there are many mistakes (i.e.
providing self-incriminating statements to adjustors) that cannot be
"undone" even by the most experienced Personal Injury attorney.
1. Every accident victim seeking fair compensation
for their injuries must retain a qualified Personal Injury Attorney.
How can we make this statement? Simple, even with our
considerable experience and knowledge of the law, we have to fight
"tooth and nail" with insurance company attorneys to secure fair
compensation for every one of our clients.
