Why hire an attorney after a Muncie accident
Filing a claim after a motor vehicle collision should be easy. All you have to do is report the accident to the at-fault driver’s insurance and they will pay for your medical bills, damaged vehicle, and pain and suffering.
But insurance companies want to avoid paying money at any cost. They may deny your claim or use your medical history to justify a lower settlement offer. This is where a Muncie personal injury attorney can help. They know how to deal with stubborn insurance companies and fight for a fair settlement on your behalf so you can avoid stress and focus on healing.
What else can an auto accident attorney do for you?
Calculate what your claim is worth
Every single case is different, but every car accident settlement should at the very least cover your medical bills, including physical therapy. It should also include compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages. An Indiana car accident attorney will let you know what you can expect from your settlement.
Determine liability
Your car accident attorney will immediately begin gathering evidence and investigating the scene of your accident. Their investigations can protect you from counterclaims from other drivers who would benefit from you having more fault. Your attorney will track down the insurance information of the at-fault driver and all liable parties that played a role in your accident.
Negotiate with insurance
The first offer you get from the insurance company will be the bare minimum based on whatever medical bills and appraisals they can find. But that offer won’t account for continuing medical treatment, counseling, or pain and suffering. Our Muncie car accident lawyers have two decades of experience negotiating with greedy insurance companies and know which tactics will get you the settlement you deserve.
Taking your case to court
Sometimes just the threat of a lawsuit is enough to make the insurance company cough up settlement money. But if you end up going to court, you want an experienced trial attorney on your side. At Hensley Legal Group, our injury attorneys don’t shy away from going to court if that’s what it takes to get you full and fair compensation.
Mistakes to avoid when dealing with Muncie insurance companies
After an Indiana car accident, you should get a claim started with the insurance company as quickly as possible. They will send out an insurance adjuster to collect details about the car accident and to determine how much money they should pay for the accident.
As you speak with the insurance adjuster, you must remember that their most important job is to save the insurance company money. If you say the wrong thing, they could use your statement to justify a lower settlement amount.
Here are five things you should not do when talking to an insurance adjuster:
- Apologize. Apologizing is a very Hoosier thing to do after an accident. Saying sorry is usually the kind and polite thing, but saying “I’m sorry” can be construed as an admission of guilt.
- Lie about the accident. If the insurance adjuster finds out that you lied about the circumstances of your car accident, they will have an easy time casting doubt on your entire version of events. When you speak to the insurance company, stick to the facts and do not embellish or fill in details that you aren’t completely sure of.
- Exaggerate your injuries. Your car accident settlement should cover your medical bills. There’s no use lying about your injuries to get a higher statement: when the insurance company receives your medical bills, they will know you are lying. It is fine to just say that you are seeking medical treatment, and leave it at that.
- Give an official statement. The insurance adjuster will ask for your official statement. Do not give an official statement without legal representation present. Insurance companies know how to twist your words to justify a lower settlement offer. Your attorney, on the other hand, will know how to word your statement to avoid incrimination.
It is completely possible to file a claim and reach a settlement on your own. But if you are in a multi-vehicle crash, or a collision with a semi-truck or commercial vehicle, it may be harder to get the appropriate insurance information to start your claim. A Muncie personal injury lawyer can find out who the liable parties are and make the process less stressful than if you had gone it alone.
