Breaking The Pattern of Abuse: Tips For Protecting Yourself

Posted on: 26 January 2022

After a car accident, you may be eager to settle the case so that you can get on with your life. It's always fortunate when the driver that caused the accident and injured you has insurance. However, many insurers offer settlements that fall far short of what victims deserve. Read on to find out where insurers fall short of providing victims with adequate compensation.

It's About Accident Damages

What you deserve to be paid is based on your damages and this refers not only to your damaged car but other things, too. You should be paid for your medical expenses, lost wages, property losses or damage, and finally, pain and suffering. This final type of damage varies in what it's worth depending, usually, on the extent of your medical expenses and the severity of your injuries. Permanent injuries, for example, will always raise the dollar value of a pain and suffering payment. Unfortunately, insurers seldom fully cover some of the above and never cover pain and suffering at all. It's interesting to note that pain and suffering is likely to be higher, perhaps several times higher, than your total medical expenses. 

 What Victims Should Do

After a car accident, you don't have to deal with a reluctant insurer. Bypass all the delays, denied claims, and stress, and contact your own personal injury lawyer to help you get paid what you deserve. Once the insurer knows you have representation, everything about the case will change. For your part, you no longer must cope with the insurer and can focus on recovering from your injuries. To help you go beyond an inadequate insurance settlement offer, follow these tips:

1. Don't engage with the insurance adjuster for the other side. They may use tricks to get you to speak to them, but you are not required to do that. Talk to your lawyer whenever they try to contact you and let them handle that issue.
2. Take care of yourself by fully complying with all medical advice, prescriptions, suggested diagnostic tests, and more. You want to be seen as taking your injuries seriously. If you don't, you could be seen as exaggerating your medical needs. Remember, the higher the cost of your medical expenses, the more you are likely to be paid for your pain and suffering.
3. Don't make a move without consulting with your personal injury lawyer. You can do harm to your case if you say or do the wrong thing, and this is no time to go rogue.

Speak to a personal injury lawyer to find out more.