Following an unexpected accidental injury, you could be left frustrated and shocked, wondering what you can do to get fair compensation. Ambulatory services, medical bills, hospital stays, and missed work can lead to serious financial strain on you. Typically, insurance providers will want to reduce your claim’s value, leaving you in a tough position. Thankfully, a skilled Long Beach personal injury lawyer can help you navigate the claims process.
Understanding your legal options after sustaining a serious injury in an accident can help you decide how you should proceed. While the costs related to working with a lawyer can intimidate you, there are a lot of benefits you can get when you have an attorney on your side. Here’s what a personal injury lawyer can do for your case:
Assess Your Claim’s Value
An important aspect of a personal injury claim is establishing a realistic value of the damages you have sustained. This can include factors such as medical expenses, current and future lost income, ongoing physical therapy, as well as pain and suffering.
Communicate with the Insurance Company
Insurance providers will try to reduce your monetary damages. They will make a quick settlement offer that is lower than what you deserve, hoping you will accept it. Also, the insurer may use other tactics like having you watched by a private investigator waiting to catch you doing activities you shouldn’t be doing because of your injury.
If you hire a lawyer, the insurance company will take your case more seriously than when you handle the case on your own. The company knows how serious lawyers are in taking on your case and even representing you in court. It wants to avoid litigation as much as possible because of the high costs associated with the legal proceedings. Your attorney will negotiate settlements with the insurer until they can reach a settlement agreement.
Give Legal Advice
Some actions you take during the claims process can help or hurt your injury claim. Your lawyer, given their experience working with claimants and insurance companies, can offer valuable advice on the steps to take to preserve the integrity of your claim.
Gather Documentation
Your attorney knows what documents they need to support your claim. They file these documents before the statute of limitations expires. The claims process is complex and it is in your best interest to work with a lawyer who knows to work through it.
