The accident wasn't my fault, and I'm still waiting to hear if my car was totalled. I have some neck trauma. The other driver had insurance.
2007-06-29 01:29:10 · 9 answers · asked by Claire 3 in Business & Finance ➔ Insurance
In minor injury cases, an attorney rarely increases the money you end up with in pocket, or speed up the claim. In general, they have you sign a contract to give them 33% of your total settlement, plus expenses. They then send you to their doctors to build your case. These medical bills come out of your settlement. They run tests and send you to months of therapy, also coming out of your settlement. Finally, they gather up the records and demand that the insurance company pay you $10 million because of your life changing injury. Months later, the settlement is reached that is way less. The settlement is higher than what would have been if you didn't get an attorney. But the doctors and lawyers take their money, and you are left with often as little 1/4 to 1/3 of the total settlement. And this has dragged out for months.
One reason to get an attorney in a minor injury case is if you are not very comfortable handling business matter or dealing with confrontation.
2007-06-29 02:49:54 · answer #1 · answered by Phil 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
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2016-09-24 20:58:02 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on how serious the injury was, how forthcoming the other insurance company was, etc.
Lawyers are going to take 30%. I'm guessing "neck trauma" means you're sore, maybe went to the emergency room - soft tissue injuries only.
Do you know if your state allows pain and suffering for soft tissue injuries? Or if you're a "limited tort" state?
Likely, there's not going to be much money here. If you start racking up bills, the insurance company will be more likely to not be forthcoming. And you might have a lawyer not want to take this on contingency.
In any case, the MOST the other insurance will pay is policy limit - so if the other driver has "minimum coverage", that's not going to help you out at all.
I'd try doing it myself first. You can ALWAYS get the lawyer, but once you do it slows the whole process down in a big way.
2007-06-29 01:52:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
despite the bad press that insurance companies get, they want to settle your claim with you as quickly as possible. it doesn't sound like a serious accident so i guess i would try to resolve it with the carrier. it's unlikely that the atty will take on the property damage portion of your claim any way. they rarely do. if your car has been appraised then it won't take long to determine if it is a total loss or not. is it an older vehicle? if you have collision coverage, you can always let your carrier handle and subrogate against the other carrier if you feel more trusting that they will treat you fairly. sounds like a whiplash injury. depending on the state, you might not be entitled to make a third-party liability claim. some have thresholds that must be met. on-going medical expenses are generally covered by your first-party coverage.
2007-07-02 19:42:40 · answer #4 · answered by cat f 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Deal with the insurance if you can. I was an adjuster for a few years, and having an attorney did NOT change the amount I offered in settlement, it just made settling more difficult. Then, your attorney will take a large percentage of what you get.
The settlement amount did not change because I always offered a fair amount, based on the accident details, not based on who had the scarier lawyer.
2007-06-29 08:57:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a bad experience with an insurance company: Liberty Mutual. Dragged it out for a long time, didn't pay me what the car was worth, etc.
I would give the insurance company one week, if they don't give you what you want, tell them you are going to get an attorney. Then do it. You will have attorney's fees but hopefully they are offset by the higher insurance payment.
2007-06-29 02:12:32 · answer #6 · answered by hottotrot1_usa 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The insurance company is probably trying to settle out of court?? Don't answer any questions that their insurance company asks etc. Hire an attorney immediately and if they ask to speak with you just refer them to your attorney. Don't answer any questions....AT ALL...
2007-07-01 16:56:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you do not choose a expert bono criminal expert. professional bono legal experts paintings for loose. you go with a criminal expert who will settle for her case on contingency, this is, he gets paid while and if she wins her case. If she does not win, he does not gets a commission. Any own harm criminal expert could in all probability be chomping on the bit on your mom's case. some criminal experts could even strengthen clientele funds from their settlements in the event that they seem to be a valuable factor. very almost all own harm legal experts paintings on a contingency foundation and that i'm valuable there are in all probability a pair of billion of them interior the Houston area.... Open up a telephone e book to 'criminal experts', close your eyes, now factor....There, you in all probability got here upon one....
2016-09-28 14:34:18 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get a lawyer insurance companies only think about themselves
2007-06-29 01:36:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋