When You Should Hire Legal Representation vs. Fighting the Insurance Company on Your Own
Some people involved in car crashes may be tempted to deal with the other driver’s insurance company on their own, especially if they believe fault is obvious. People trust the system will treat them fairly, especially when there is a legally binding policy framework in place. They may not realize just how dedicated insurance companies are to their ultimate goal – do what’s in the best interest of their investors and bottom line. In practice, this means looking for any possible reason to deny or undervalue your claim.
Insurance company intransigence can be frustrating when an auto accident has only resulted in vehicle damage, but permanently life-changing if you’ve been seriously injured. Individuals or families reeling from a catastrophic injury after a car accident may be looking at weeks or months of lost income, or even a permanent loss of earning potential. Stack on top of those losses massive medical bills and months or years of pain and suffering.
If there’s any silver lining in the situation, it’s the predictability of insurance company behavior in the wake of serious injury car crashes. A skilled auto accident attorney will approach accident investigation, negotiation and, if necessary, litigation with a deep familiarity of the insurance company’s tactics and arguments. They understand how to counter efforts to minimize your compensation and can be a valuable ally during an inherently challenging time in you and your family’s life.
When Do People with Car Accident Injuries Benefit From Legal Assistance
- Complex Cases: Cases that involve multiple parties or severe, life-changing injuries can get complicated quickly. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you navigate every twist and turn of the claims process.
- Denied Claims: Successfully appealing claim denials often requires new evidence that clearly establishes fault or the value of damages. Car accident lawyers know how to identify and develop evidence through detail-oriented investigations.
- Disputed Liability: If it isn’t clear who’s at fault in an accident, leading to a heated dispute over liability, an attorney can be an invaluable advocate for your rights and integrity.
- Injuries and Medical Bills: Severe injuries often result in substantial medical bills. You may need a large settlement to cover rehabilitation and future healthcare costs. Experienced car accident lawyers know how to properly calculate things like future medical costs or lost earning potential and can advocate for fair pain and suffering damages.
Why the Insurance Company Isn't on Your Side
Since they’re profit-based businesses, insurance companies have an organizational imperative to minimize claim payments to injured people. They may try to undervalue or deny your personal injury claim by underestimating your injuries, disputing causation or discrediting evidence.
They may even intentionally prolong the claims process to create frustration and financial strain, potentially forcing you to accept an insultingly low settlement offer that only covers a fraction of your current and future damages.
Insurance companies can also make their policies seem more complicated than they are. They often make the language harder to follow while requiring you to jump through bureaucratic hoops to receive the payment you should have received to cover the damage their policyholder caused. They’ll work hard to exploit your lack of experience and legal knowledge to save money.
What Are Bad Faith Claims?
If an insurance provider behaves in a manner that betrays their contractual obligations, they may be violating Georgia law, which can make the policyholder eligible to file a bad faith claim. Georgia Code § 33-4-6 and Georgia Code § 33-4-7 specifically state that insurance companies must handle claims fairly and with due diligence.
Not every claim denial or shady negotiating tactic necessarily rises to the level of bad faith, but when they do, it’s important to hold insurers accountable. Regardless of whether a bad faith claim is involved or not, the experienced attorneys at the Law Office of Rickard, Drew & Nix will advocate for your interests through negotiations or litigation.
How a Lawyer Can Increase Your Chances of Receiving a Better Settlement
Hiring legal representation can level the playing field with the insurance company. From negotiating for fair compensation to expediting the claims process so you can receive compensation as soon as possible, we’ll fight to ensure your rights are being respected.
As trial attorneys, we don’t shy away from the courtroom if it’s necessary to get our clients the compensation they deserve. And since we work on a contingency fee basis, you don’t have to pay upfront or out of pocket to receive dedicated, reputable car accident representation.
To receive a free case consultation and talk one-on-one with one of our accident attorneys, call (404) 588-1001 or complete our contact form today.
Attorney Jessica Nix, Managing Partner
Jessica Nix is Managing Partner and a Personal Injury Attorney at the Law Office of Rickard, Drew & Nix in Atlanta, with more than 10 years of experience representing injury victims in courts across Metro Atlanta. She graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law, where she served as an editor of the Journal of Intellectual Property Law. Jessica is admitted to the State Bar of Georgia, is a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, and was named a Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star for Personal Injury from 2017 to 2019. To speak with the Law Office of Rickard, Drew & Nix, schedule a free consultation today.
