Why Is It Necessary To Put Pressure On Insurance Companies?
In theory, the role of an insurance company is to provide compensation when one of the actions of their clients results in property damage or injuries. Of course, reality doesn't always play out this way. Insurance companies operate as businesses, meaning they want to minimize liability and pay out as little as possible.
While this information probably doesn't surprise most people, it's important to understand how it can affect the trajectory of a personal injury claim. Getting an appropriate settlement from the insurance company often requires knowledge of the claims process and, in most cases, the help of an experienced attorney.
How the Insurance Company Can Undervalue Your Claim
If you don't have an attorney, the initial process following an accident usually involves a claims adjuster. The adjuster will evaluate your case, estimate property damages and medical costs, and help the insurance company arrive at an initial settlement. This value will often be relatively low, especially if you haven't yet reached maximum medical improvement for your injuries.
Unfortunately, it can be hard to know whether you're receiving a reasonable value for your claim, especially when you may be struggling with medical bills and other consequences of your accident. If you don't have experience in the claims process, you may not understand whether you can make claims for lost wages, pain and suffering, or other factors beyond your immediate medical needs.
The insurance company may also attempt to delay your claim. Even if they know they'll ultimately need to pay a larger settlement, it can be beneficial for them to delay the payout for as long as possible. These delays can be frustrating if you need to deal with medical expenses immediately, leaving you feeling as if you need to take a lower settlement to receive a check sooner.
How Experienced Attorneys Can Help
While most personal injury claims don't end up in court, there's still substantial value in working with a lawyer. An experienced attorney will pressure the insurance company, forcing them to negotiate a better settlement and offer more than their initial lowball offers. Insurance companies will often appoint a litigation adjuster at this point, which can also lead to higher offers.
Most importantly, starting the process with an attorney will help limit the insurance company's ability to delay a fair and just settlement. The insurance company will want to avoid a trial and accusations that they may be acting in bad faith, so there's a strong incentive to work with your attorney and arrive at a negotiated settlement to meet your needs.
Taking on a personal injury claim alone can be challenging and fraught with many potential pitfalls. The insurance company knows how to negotiate for a lower settlement and delay paying out for as long as possible. Working with an attorney to pressure the insurance company is the best way to ensure you receive a quick and fair settlement for your injuries.
To learn more, go to sites of auto accident lawyers in your area to speak with a legal professional.
