Need an Attorney if I'm Offered an Injury Settlement

Insurance companies will often contact those involved in an accident caused by another and offer an injury settlement. The settlement might appear reasonable, and the insurance company will undoubtedly show concern for the injured or harmed, but it may not be enough to compensate for long-term medical and future lost earnings.

It should worry the victim if they have no legal representation.

Here is why the smartest thing you can do is hire a lawyer to manage your injury settlement. Our experienced lawyers at Mottaz & Sisk Injury Law are the best representation in court and can help fight for an increased settlement.

The Insurance Company Cares About One Thing

With its settlement offer, the insurance company cares about saving money, meaning they might not even provide you the care you need, such as long-term medical care, and cover any future lost earnings. They neither care about their client nor the person or people their client’s negligence or negligent action harmed. The insurance company wants to pay as little as possible on any claim.

The Insurance Company Will Pay More But Grudgingly

Company Will Pay More But

Because the insurance company only cares about saving or making money, it will make a preemptive offer on claims it knows it will lose. This offer will almost always be low. If you accept it without consulting a lawyer, you risk cutting yourself out of vital funding to cover the following:

  • Direct medical care expenses
  • Rehabilitation costs
  • Lost wages
  • Future lost earnings
  • Long-term medical care
  • Future rehabilitation costs due to your injury or illness

No insurance company wants to pay for those, such as long-term medical care and future lost earnings, if they can figure out a way to avoid the expenses. The easiest and most obvious way is to make an offer to the injured party at a lower amount than the company thinks it would get if the matter went to court.

The First Offer Is Rarely the Best

Every insurance company will put out a number they want you to accept. It is rarely the best offer or even a fair offer. An attorney can more easily recognize this inadequacy and convince the insurance company to provide appropriate compensation.

Attorneys who work in personal injury law, like our staff at Mottaz & Sisk Injury Law, know the tricks the insurance companies will employ to try and save money. They can assess your situation and come up with a reasonable amount that you will need to help with medical bills, either with short- or long-term medical care. Their presence on the case will often prompt the company to offer a significantly higher figure. They can also help in a few other ways.

Assessing Your Case

Your attorney will be able to look at the facts of your case and decide the best course of action moving forward. They will have formulas that help determine how much funding you will need to ensure adequate medical treatment plus the cost of living. They can also help you choose what, if any, damages you should pursue.

Negotiating a Settlement

When you have years of experience negotiating with insurance companies, it is difficult for them to get away with an injury settlement that is less than what it should be. Your attorney will have skills in negotiating, reviewing offers, and determining what is fair and what needs a counter offer.

Case Preparation

If the insurance company is unwilling to pay a fair amount, your lawyer will recommend going to court. That includes deadlines, legal processes, and rules for the trial. It also means interviewing and selecting witnesses, overseeing depositions, etc. You can try and do all that by yourself, but it is far easier to have someone who does it for a living help you.

Never Go It Alone

Just like you would never instruct a surgeon on how to prepare surgery on you, you should not attempt to represent yourself with insurance companies that are determined to undercut what you deserve.

Even if you are an attorney, you are too close to your case to win it. For everyone else, attempting to negotiate a settlement or take a claim to court alone is never recommended.

Hire an Injury Attorney

Injury Attorney

If you were in an accident because of someone else’s negligence, their insurance company will contact you and offer you an injury settlement. Your best bet is to refer them to your attorney. 
That accomplishes three things: You let them know you have a professional on your side, it sends a message to the insurance company that you are serious, and it ensures you get the best offer possible. Contact Mottaz & Sisk Injury Law today if you require representation for your injury settlement case.