Insurance companies spend millions each year on clever ads to get your business. Unfortunately, the big advertisers are often the least likely to pay the full compensation you deserve.
Insurance companies view your injury as a business cost, and their goal is to keep costs as low as possible. So, expect them to try to convince you to settle for less.
Consult an Attorney Before Giving a Statement
First, right after the incident, when you are overwhelmed and injured, an insurance adjuster may call to ask you for a statement. They hope you will say something that will allow them to deny your claim entirely or pay much less. Even an innocent comment can be used against you. Always contact an experienced attorney for advice before giving a statement to any insurance company, even your own.
Don’t Accept a Settlement Without Knowing Your Options
Insurance adjusters may push for a quick settlement, beware: a quick settlement is usually better for them than it is for you.
The reason? Fast settlements don’t give you time to fully evaluate your injuries or learn the real value of your claim. It can take weeks or months after an accident to know the full extent of your injuries. If you settle with an insurance company right away and it turns out you need more medical treatment later, they will not pay again.
Hit & Run and Drunk Drivers
If you are the victim of a hit-and-run or injured by a drunk or impaired driver, you are entitled to punitive damages. This means you have a right to be paid more than just the cost of your medical bills, property damage, and pain and suffering. Even if the driver who hit you isn’t found and your claim is paid by your own insurance company, you still have a right to punitive damages.
Insurance adjusters rarely tell you that you have the right to collect punitive damages. That’s why it’s important to hire an experienced attorney to ensure that you receive the full value of your claim.
Uninsured Motorist Claims
In an accident where the other driver is not insured, you may need to make a claim against your own policy. An experienced attorney will know how to handle these claims properly so you can collect all the coverage available to you. This might include coverage from other policies and vehicles in your household.
The first thing to know is that signing a release will hurt your ability to receive more compensation for your claim. Talk to an attorney before you sign anything.
You should also know that, if you can’t resolve your claim with your insurance company and have to file a lawsuit, your own insurer will hire an attorney to fight your claim. That’s right. The same company that spent millions on advertising to get you to buy their coverage will use the money you paid in premiums to hire an attorney to deny or limit what you get paid.
Jennifer Purdy has three decades of experience successfully helping injured victims with claims against their own insurance companies. Let Purdy Law, LLC help maximize the amount you receive on these claims.
Underinsured Motorist Claims
If the driver at fault in your accident is insured but doesn’t have enough insurance to cover all of your damages, you may be able to make a claim against your own policy for the rest.
If there is any chance that your injuries and damages may be more than the at-fault driver’s insurance limits, it is critical that you do not sign a release. Signing a release will destroy the claim against your own coverage.
Instead, there is a special legal document you must sign that will allow you to settle with the at-fault driver’s insurance company and still protect your ability to make a claim against your own policy.
Don’t risk losing the right to receive the payment you are entitled to. Contact an experienced injury attorney at Purdy Law, LLC before signing any document.
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