If you have been injured due to someone’s actions or negligence, you may be entitled to recover your medical expenses, potential lost wages, and more. In a perfect world, you would simply receive the necessary treatment, send the bill to the at-fault party (or an insurance company), and you would receive the money you are owed.
Unfortunately, that’s not always how it plays out.
At-fault people often deny responsibility in some way or another. They may think that a claim against them will cost them money. An at-fault person may also believe that admitting fault makes him or her look bad. Moreover, their insurance company (or your own in the case of an uninsured person) may attempt to undercut your claim. They might even deny it outright. The more significant your medical expenses and lost wages are, the more trouble you can run into in your daily life. And ultimately, it is in the best interest of an insurance company to pay you as little as possible.
That’s why it’s best to involve an attorney sooner rather than later. In fact, outside of reporting the initial incident to your insurance company, an attorney should be the first person you speak to. Even when talking to your own insurance provider, give as few details as possible. It’s in your best interest to get a proper understanding of the situation, gather evidence, and learn about the options available to you as soon as possible.
If you immediately make a claim, and it gets denied, you will likely need to present new evidence to convince the insurance company to reassess the claim. This can be difficult, even with an attorney. Alternatively, insurance companies will often try and make a quick, low payment to settle things right away and save money. Insurance companies may try that before the full details of the claim are realized and the actual value of your claim can be assessed.
They may also try to tell you where you can receive medical treatment and what types of treatment you can receive, depriving you of the treatment options you are legally entitled to.
By getting an attorney involved immediately, you can get a proper perspective on what your rights are and what you’re truly entitled to.
Insurance companies and their adjusters are not inherently bad guys who are trying to ruin your life. They’re simply doing their job by saving those companies as much as possible in claims payments. You shouldn’t settle for less than what you’re owed or let an insurance company deny a valid claim.
With Free Consultations, There’s No Reason Not to Talk to a Lawyer
In the case of personal injury cases, most attorneys provide a free consultation. A free consultation allows an attorney to understand your case, explain your options, and help you decide whether or not you need ongoing legal assistance. From there, it’s your choice on how you would like to proceed. Know that hiring a lawyer doesn’t automatically mean a lawsuit will be filed. The majority of cases settle before trial and many cases settle in lieu of suit ever needing to be filed.
Your attorney is there to help you navigate the situation, understand your rights, and let those at fault know that you’re taking this seriously.
At The Richards Injury Firm, we provide personal, professional legal services. It’s our goal to make legal representation more accessible to those who have suffered from injury due to negligence, defective products, auto accidents, and more. After your initial free consultation, we work for a contingency fee, should you choose to have us represent you. This means rather than charging an upfront cost or billing per hour, we are paid a percentage of your final settlement or judgment. If you don’t win your case, you don’t owe us anything.
For a personal injury attorney in the Hamilton and Greater Cincinnati area that listens to your individual needs, contact The Richards Firm today!