An attorney will work with insurance adjusters after an accident

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries (or if your loved one has died) in an auto accident, you will have to deal with an insurance company in the aftermath to be able to recover compensation for medical bills and suffering. Don’t go it alone. Have an attorney by your side to fight that battle.

Negotiating with insurance adjusters can be an intimidating prospect, as these massive companies have nearly unlimited resources at their disposal. It is crucial you work alongside an attorney for this process, as personal injury attorneys will have a much better understanding of the strategies that can be employed to maximize the value of your claim during negotiations with your adjuster. Without legal aid, you may only be able to recover a small fraction of the money you’d be able to get with an attorney’s assistance.

An attorney will be able to help you through your claim by following these procedures:

• Start your claim as soon as possible: It’s important you begin your claim quickly so you can still accurately recall all the details of the accident, and so you do not surpass the statute of limitations for such claims. Your first priority should, of course, be getting the medical attention you need, but as soon as you’re able, get in touch with an experienced attorney and begin the claims process.
• Keep thorough records: Document everything associated with your case, and keep plenty of records, including a copy of the police report for the accident, records of medical bills and vehicle repair bills, records of lost wages and anything else that would be relevant to your claim. Your attorney will provide you with a thorough list of all the documentation you need to track to build a case against the insurance company, and help you compile and organize it.
• Determine a fair settlement figure: Your attorney will help you determine the approximate settlement value of what your claim is worth and come to the table with that number already in mind, giving some room to negotiate with the insurance adjuster, whose job is to get the lowest possible settlement. Your attorney will take charge of the negotiations for you.
• Be careful about first offers: Insurance adjusters frequently give offers that are on the lower end of acceptability, knowing that many people who do not work with attorneys are eager to get the claims process over with as soon as possible and accept any payout they’re offered. Don’t talk to an insurance adjuster. Hire an experienced lawyer and let your attorney talk to them. Low offers are often a tactic to see if you’re willing to negotiate. An attorney will be able to sniff out a lowball offer immediately. Listen to their instincts.
• Ask for justification of low offers: If the figure from an adjuster is especially low to the point where it seems absurd, your attorney will ask for specific reasons and documentation from the adjuster indicating why the offer is so low, then your attorney will work with you to develop a counteroffer and letter that responds to each one of those factors to fight for a fair settlement.
• Sell your case: An attorney will sell your case to the insurance adjusters, including emotional factors such as pain and suffering, and other losses you’ve experienced as a result of the accident.
• Get the settlement in writing: Once you and your attorney reach an agreement with the adjuster, your attorney will make sure you get legal confirmation of that agreement in writing so you can save a copy of the agreement for your records. This will be a legally binding settlement contract that will be enforceable.

For more strategies for negotiating with insurance adjusters after an accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney with Bond Legal today.