This is the next post in a series of articles discussing the personal injury process in Laredo, Texas. The previous article discussed how the statute of limitations may impact your personal injury case. It also stressed the need to immediately consult with an attorney after suffering an injury in order to ensure that the statute of limitations does not expire before you initiate your lawsuit. Failure to do so may preclude any recovery of damages. In this post we will discuss the process of dealing with insurance adjusters after an accident. After an accident occurs, it is important to consult with experienced personal injury counsel to help navigate this process. If you have been injured in an accident, contact my office today to speak with a lawyer.
Following an accident, the injured party will often be contacted by the responsible party’s insurance company within a short time. Often, an overwhelmed victim is not sure how to respond to their requests for recorded statements or information about the accident. It is important to remember from the outset that the insurance adjuster representing the defendant does not work for you. Their job is to minimize the exposure to the insurance company and reach a settlement as fast as possible. Insurance adjusters are often well trained and will encourage the victim to agree to a quick settlement before they have time to contact an attorney. Depending on the facts of your case and severity of the injuries, a hasty settlement will not likely reflect the amount of damages to which you may be entitled.
For the reasons stated above, retaining an attorney immediately after suffering an injury is very helpful when it comes to dealing with insurance companies. This is because the attorney will speak to the insurance company on your behalf and manage all communications from that point forward. This will allow you to focus on recovering rather than negotiating with an adjuster. Your lawyer will advise you about your right to receive damages and help navigate the settlement process. Retaining counsel also lets the insurance company know that litigation may commence if the claim process is not handled fairly. Your lawyer will investigate the incident and gather evidence to be used during the settlement negotiations and, if necessary, at trial.
When selecting an attorney it is important that you select a firm with substantial experience in personal injury cases. You should verify that the firm has the appropriate resources to engage expert witnesses and to incur the costs of litigating the case should settlement talks prove unsuccessful. My office handles personal injury matters in Laredo and other areas of south Texas. If you or a loved one has been injured, contact my office as soon as possible to speak with an attorney.