Insurance companies are businesses just like any other company. This means that whatever they pay you for your claim will impact their bottom line, and they do not always like that. Therefore, you need to be wary when dealing with them. Here are three reasons why you should speak with a Tampa personal injury attorney before you accept the insurance company’s offer of settlement.
You Will Know the Value of the Claim
Insurance companies will definitely know how much your claim is worth, practically down to the penny. It is their bread and butter and what they do every single day. Beyond that, they have complicated software programs that help them compute your claim’s worth. You do not have any of this information. Hopefully, this will have been your first accident so you are not well-versed in claim valuation.
A Tampa personal injury attorney handles claims like yours on a daily basis. They will have an idea of how much you can get in a settlement offer and whether the insurance company is being fair with you. The attorney will also know everything that can be included in your claim.
Insurance Companies Can Be Difficult
Not every insurance company is easy to deal with when it comes to getting the money that you are owed. Many of them are excessively formal and try to put hurdles in your way to make it more difficult to get their money.
Navigating the maze of the insurance company may be more than you can handle in the wake of an injury. You are likely dealing with many things all at once before you are even able to worry about your health. A personal injury attorney can help you speak with and handle the insurance company, lowering your stress level during a very difficult time.
They Can Get You More Money
Under most circumstances, you should never accept the insurance company’s initial settlement offer. They are viewing the settlement process as a negotiation and, like any good negotiator, they will not make their best offer first. Instead, they will try to lowball you with their first offer. The insurance company is likely trying to see if you will jump at what they are giving you because you need the money quickly. They are hoping that your interest of necessity will overtake your need to be fully compensated.
You are under no obligation to take what the insurance company is trying to give you simply because they are offering it. Many people do not know this critical piece of information. It is possible to make a counteroffer to the insurance company in the hopes of settling your claim.
There is a skill to negotiating with insurance companies that a personal injury attorney will possess. While many cases will end up in court, these companies do not necessarily want to litigate your case. For them, it adds to their costs of doing business. While retaining an attorney does not guarantee you more money in a settlement, it will put you in a stronger position when dealing with the insurance company.
With all of this in mind, it is in your best interest to have a conversation with a personal injury attorney if you will be filing a claim for a personal injury or have a claim pending
