Seek Legal Counsel from a Personal Injury Lawyer First

Accident victims often wait until they’ve spoken with an insurance company before they consult with a personal injury attorney. However, it is better to seek legal counsel first. Without legal representation, an insurer may use your conversations to reduce the amount of the claim or to deny it.

Why an Insurance Company May Deny a Claim

If you’ve already had a claim denied, your lawyer can help you dispute the insurance company’s denial to gain a more satisfactory resolution. An insurance company may deny a claim for one of any of the following reasons:

• It believes the party it covers is not-at-fault or did not cause the wreck
• It attempts to show that you were responsible for the mishap
• It tries to establish the liability of another party

How A Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

By speaking to an experienced PI lawyer, he or she can help you prove who, in fact, bears the responsibility for the accident. This may include locating video coverage showing the crash, asking witnesses about the incident, or using the testimony of an expert witness to show how the accident happened and the reasons for the event.

A personal injury lawyer can also help you access information that you may find difficult to get. For instance, if you had an accident with a commercial truck driver, your lawyer might be able to access the driver’s logbook. This information will show the amount of time the trucker spent on the road before the accident.

Your PI lawyer can also examine public records concerning the intersection where the accident occurred. This might help him or her to establish the regularity of other accidents at the location.

He or she may also gather evidence about the vehicle maintenance record of the other party. If the other driver was lax in this respect, a lawyer may be able to show how poor maintenance or a lack of repairs may have led to the wreck.

By using this information, a personal injury attorney can pursue a claim against all the parties that may be held liable in an accident.

Disputing a Claimant’s Injuries

When an insurance company disputes your injuries, it usually wants to see substantial proof that your injuries significantly limit you in what you can do. . In this instance, it may ask to know, specifically, how your injuries are restricting you. Not only will they want to see medical bills and records, but they also want to know more about your long-term prognosis.

How Your Personal Injury Attorney Can Improve Your Chances

In these instances, a personal injury attorney can help you siphon what info is needed to approve a claim. He or she can place you in a negotiating position that places you at more favorable odds.

Stalling for Time or Not Responding

In some cases, the insurance company representing the liable party does not respond after, perhaps, first contact. Now you’re wondering if you’ll even receive any money from the insurer. This can be especially frustrating if you’re expecting payment but it has not yet arrived.

According to the National Law Review, insurance companies can devise various tactics to prevent claimants from receiving their money.

In these cases, you need to contact a personal injury attorney without delay as the insurer might be stalling so the statute of limitations for filing runs out.

The statute of limitations is the window of time you’re given for filing a personal injury lawsuit. It usually starts 2 years from the date of the mishap.

To lengthen the time for processing a claim, an adjuster might stall its investigations, or the company might switch the representative. In other cases, the company may ask for unnecessary paperwork or ask for details in increments instead of all at once.

If you retain the services of an attorney, you’re showing you’re serious about pursuing compensation. Insurance companies face penalties for ignoring a claim or not taking responsibility for paying the claim on time.

Investopedia defines this type of non-compliance as bad faith insurance. If an insurance company refuses to pay a legitimate claim or does not review and process a claim within a reasonable time, the company can be held liable and be financially penalized.

You can also run into problems if the insurance company does not offer a settlement that will cover all your medical needs and expenses. That is why you need a legal negotiator on your side – someone who knows what it takes to receive the money you need for meeting your daily living needs and medical costs.

Who to Contact in Los Angeles

Speak to a personal injury lawyer now if you’ve been involved in a car crash or another accident where you believe another party was at fault. Call the law firm of Jance M. Weberman in Los Angeles at 213-386-9100  today.

The post Why You Should Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer After an Auto Accident appeared first on Jance Weberman | Winning Los Angeles Lawyer.

Have you handled this type of case before?

This question can help you decide whether the attorney has experience handling personal injury claims and is knowledgeable enough to offer you the guidance you need. Many LA personal injury cases are settled without going to trial. Having an attorney who is a skilled negotiator can help you get the best settlement from an insurance company.  

Do you think my case will be successful?

It may be difficult to determine whether a case will be successful due to all the different variables. However, a lawyer who owns all the relevant facts should give you an honest evaluation.  The LA experienced attorney will also ensure that you comply with time limitations in filing a lawsuit. In Los Angeles, the statute limitation of filing a personal injury lawsuit is two years.   

How much will I have to pay?

Most Los Angeles personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means that if the attorney does not win the claim, you do not have to pay. The lawyer’s fee is usually based on a set percentage of the total settlement in the case and should be set out in a written attorney/client fee agreement.  When you interview personal injury lawyers, make sure you find out if they work on a contingency fee basis.  

What do you think my case is worth?

A personal injury lawyer who has all the pertinent facts will give a rough estimate of the amount of compensation. In Los Angeles, claims that amount to $10,000 or less in damages goes to the small claims division. In contrast, those involving higher compensation go to the civil division of the Superior Court. Many different factors go into determining compensation, including the negligence level on the part of the defendant.   

How will you communicate with me?

You will want a personal injury lawyer to keep you informed throughout the process. In the course of your consultation, the attorney should brief you on how often you will be updated on progress.  Clarify whether you will be able to communicate directly with the attorney should the need arise. The number one complaint clients have is that lawyers do not return phone calls or emails and leave them wondering what is going on.  Contact us  Don’t hesitate to call at (213) 386-9100 if you’re looking for a Los Angeles, personal injury attorney with experience. Attorney-client communication is our top priority. Our attorneys will give you the personal attention you deserve and top-quality representation at a time when you need it most. 

The post 5 Critical Questions to ask a Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer appeared first on Jance Weberman | Winning Los Angeles Lawyer.