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Legal Representation for an Accident. Can it Help?
Whether you are travelling at home or abroad if you sustain an injury during a road accident, you should consider legal representation for an accident. This simple step can save you thousands and will help you negotiate with the opposing insurance company. Most people are not experts and especially when injured or in a vulnerable situation as an accident victim you will do best to consult with experts. Read on to learn more.
How Legal Representation for an Accident Can Influence the Outcome of Settlement
Why do some accident victims win big settlements and others win peanuts?
It’s not chance. Heck, it’s not even related to how serious the accident was. The #1 factor is whether or not you had a lawyer fighting for you. An insurance claim dispute can take MONTHS. The difference between doing it yourself and working with a professional is astronomical. When you have the right attorney on your side, you can:
- Get a much bigger payout
- Avoid being lowballed by insurers
- Settle your claim faster
Here is how legal representation for an accident changes everything…
What’s inside this guide:
- Why Insurance Companies Lowball Accident Victims
- How A Lawyer Strengthens Your Insurance Claim Dispute
- The Real Settlement Numbers (With vs Without A Lawyer)
- What To Look For When Hiring Legal Help
Why Insurance Companies Lowball Accident Victims
Insurance companies are not your friend after an accident.
Their only job is to pay out as little as they can. They train their adjusters to look for ways to lowball claims or deny them. That’s what makes any insurance claim battle so frustrating for everyday people.
Adjusters do this daily. You don’t. You are already behind the 8-ball the moment you make that phone call to file a claim. They will:
- Low-ball you: They want you to accept quickly so they can move the claim off their books. The vast majority of initial offers are only a small fraction of your claim’s actual value.
- Question your injuries: Adjusters like to say your injuries aren’t as severe as alleged. They will request excessive records to delay.
- Try to blame you for the crash: Even if you were completely innocent, they may still try to place some of the blame on you in order to lower the amount they pay out.
Pretty slick, huh? That’s where trusted car accident lawyers in Calgary come into play. They’re familiar with all the tricks and know how to push back when an adjuster tries to lowball an insurance claim dispute.
The stats support that advice. One survey from Lawyers.com found that 91% of folks who used an attorney got a settlement, versus just 51% who tried to go it alone.
Photo credit – RDNE Stock project
How A Lawyer Strengthens Your Insurance Claim Dispute
So what does a lawyer actually do that makes such a big difference?
They Know What Your Claim Is Actually Worth
The average person has no idea how to value an accident claim. They see the medical bills and think that number is magical. There is a lot more to consider.
A good lawyer will calculate every damage that should be compensated for:
- Medical bills (current and future)
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Rehab costs
- Long term disability
Wow. When they figure out what it’s REALLY worth, they’re not going to take any offer from insurance that’s less than that.
They Handle All The Paperwork
Insurance claims = paperwork. Miss a deadline, fill out a form incorrectly and the whole claim could be lost. Period.
Lawyers take care of this for you. They ensure that everything is filed appropriately and worded correctly so you can concentrate on getting well.
They Investigate The Accident
Many accident victims fail to understand the value of evidence. Insurance companies will exploit any hole in a story.
A lawyer will:
- Collect police reports
- Talk to witnesses
- Gather dash cam and CCTV footage
- Bring in expert witnesses if needed
It puts together an indisputable case against the insurance company. Insurance companies tend to pay fair settlements more often when there is legal representation prepared to go to court.
Photo credit – Karwin Luo
They Negotiate Like Pros
Negotiating accident claims is what lawyers do for a living. The average person does not. Doesn’t get much easier than that.
Adjusters know when an attorney has been retained. They cannot low ball or play games. Retaining an attorney usually results in a significantly better offer.
The Real Settlement Numbers (With vs Without A Lawyer)
Want real data?
The study is quite conclusive. Plaintiffs who are represented by an attorney recover substantially more money… even after the attorney’s fees are paid. The Insurance Research Council reported that injury victims who were represented by an attorney received approximately triple the compensation than those who were not.
Even better, another survey revealed that the average settlement obtained with a lawyer was $77,600 compared to $17,600 without.
It also helps that most accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis:
- No upfront cost
- You only pay if you win
- The fee comes out of your settlement
Essentially there’s nothing to lose by hiring one. You win, you give them a percentage. You lose, you give them nothing.
Another thing to consider… Only 4-5% of car accident cases ever go to trial. 95% settle. A fair settlement is only possible when there’s the ability to threaten trial convincingly.
What To Look For When Hiring Legal Help
All lawyers are not created equal. Here are some things to look for to get the best result on an insurance claim dispute:
Experience With Accident Claims
You want someone who does accidents all day every day. Not a jack-of-all-trades lawyer. Specialty firms know the tricks of the trade.
Strong Track Record
Ask for evidence. Actual settlement achievements. Actual client testimonials. A successful attorney will gladly provide proof of their victories. If they avoid the question, RUN!
Willingness To Go To Trial
This one is huge. Some law firms are “settlement mills” that never go to trial. Insurance companies know the ones that don’t go to trial and they do not take them seriously. Choose a firm that goes to trial. Trial experience gets the best offers.
Clear Communication
You want a lawyer who will return phone calls and speak plain English. If they don’t talk to you during the consultation, they won’t when you are their client.
Final Thoughts on Legal Representation for an Accident
The truth is simple. Legal representation can make or break a settlement.
Yes, you can fight an insurance claim by yourself. However, statistics prove that this often ends with significantly less compensation and a lot more stress. Remember:
- Insurance companies are trained to pay out as little as possible
- A lawyer levels the playing field
- People with lawyers get 3x more compensation on average
- Most lawyers work on contingency so there’s no upfront cost
- Pick a firm with real experience and trial readiness
Been in an accident? Don’t sign anything the insurance company has you sign before speaking with an attorney. That one phone call could save you tens of thousands of dollars, legal representation for an accident is worth considering.
The numbers don’t lie.
