Self-representation and Insurance Settlements

After an accident, an injured person may decide to file a claim against the insurance company and/or the individual or company at fault for the accident. More often than not, the first implication is to consider the cost of getting legal representation for their claim or lawsuit. Some accident victims shrug off the idea of hiring an attorney due to fears about the cost and decide to go at it alone. First, it must be noted that almost all lawyers who handle personal injury cases charge their clients on a contingency fee basis. This basically means that the attorney only gets paid when you get paid. Therefore, coming up with money to cover attorneys’ fees at a time when you’re injured and possibly out of work is not an issue. However, others may feel that they are more than capable of representing themselves, settling their claim with insurance and getting on with their lives. This article will discuss self-representation and the effect it has on settlement and other challenges that may arise.

A common concern that comes with settling a claim with an insurance company is: what if I settle with the insurance company and I do not get better, then what? The reality is, then nothing! Once a case is settled, that’s just it, it is settled. You need to live with your insurance settlement. That’s why it is important to not to settle your case until you have recovered from your injuries as much as is possible. One reason why accident victims sometimes settle prematurely for less than their case is worth is because they are influenced by the insurance adjuster and are willing to let themselves get talked into the settlement. Sometimes, the accident victim accepts an accident injury settlement so as to get quick cash to pay bills that they are trying to deal with. And, in other instances, a victim may simply want to put the accident matter behind them and carry on with their lives.

Granted some of the above reasons for settling may be valid, but before you settle your personal injury claim, there are some important things to take into consideration. Some of these are:

- Permanence and severity of your injuries - ask yourself: is my physical injury permanent or is it a temporary injury which will heal? If it is a permanent injury, it needs to be taken more seriously. This is because such an injury may last the rest of your life and may require future medical treatment.

- Medical bills vs settlement amount - you need to know what your future medical bills will be and whether the settlement amount will be enough to cover the current and future bills. Therefore, ensure that you chat with all the doctors’ offices, hospitals and bill collectors before you settle with the insurance company.
- What is your medical condition? - because you are entitled to compensation for damages that were caused by the accident, there is need for you to have a good understanding of what symptoms were caused by the accident and which were not. Speak to your physician and get a clear answer so as to know what you should be claiming for.

Even if you plan to handle your case on your own, it is still a good idea to speak to an Alaska aircraft accidents law firm for a free case evaluation to get an estimate of the value of your claim and legal advice.

For more information on personal injury claims the author recommends Crowson Law Group