An auto accident settlement case may seem like it would be rather simple on the surface. The insurance company calls, makes you an offer and you take it, right? Wrong. There are a lot of complexities involved with this type of situation. If you try and settle it on your own and make a mistake, it could cost you thousands – possibly even hundreds of thousands – of dollars. These are just some of the reasons why you need to have an attorney by your side if you’ve been involved in an auto accident and offered a settlement out of court.
Determining Damages
You will have to determine how much your claim is worth if you are involved in an auto accident settlement case. In order to be able to do that, you’ll need to figure out your “damages,” or the losses you have experienced as a result of the wreck. There are “special damages,” such as out-of-pocket losses and “general damages,” such as pain and suffering. If you miscalculate your damages, you could be cheating yourself out of a great deal of money.
Gathering Evidence
A lot of people who try and settle a car accident case on their own don’t realize that they will need to gather the evidence they need in order to prove their case should the settlement offer be unfair. An attorney will have the knowledge and experience needed in order to gather the evidence needed so that the settlement offer you agree upon is fair.
Negotiating Skill
Hardly anyone knows how to negotiate with a professional insurance adjuster. One of the advantages an attorney provides is the threat of having to go to court. The insurer will do whatever it takes to avoid having to go through a trial, because that could cost it much more than settling. If there is no threat of a trial, the insurer can try to “low ball” you or delay a settlement indefinitely.
If you would like to learn more about how an attorney can help with an auto accident settlement case, get in touch with The Durham Firm. Call us at (214) 222-4000 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.
