We understand that the world of personal injury law can be complex and confusing, so we empathize with the idea that when you finally receive a settlement offer in the mail, you’re inclined to accept it and put the whole ordeal behind you. However, doing so means you’re likely taking much less than you could get if you knew how to play your hand better.
While we don’t have the specific statistics from Minnesota, a recent study published by a personal injury law firm in California explored some concerning patterns among those injured in a car accident. According to the firm, a poll of 1,200 injured claimants found that 68 percent of car accident injury victims accepted the first settlement from an insurance company without consulting an attorney. Among those who jumped on the first offer, 91 percent later discovered their compensation package failed to cover certain long-term medical expenses.
Additionally, the law firm found that car accident victims who hired a personal injury attorney received an average settlement of about $47,300. Those who negotiated a settlement on their own settled for an average of $13,600 for similar injuries. As we’ve mentioned many times before on this blog, hiring a personal injury attorney oftentimes more than pays for itself by ensuring you win much more than you ever would have been able to manage on your own. You may save a little money on the front end by not hiring a lawyer, but typically you’re leaving much more on the table by allowing the insurance company to capitalize on your inexperience when it comes time to negotiate.
Handling A Settlement Offer
If you receive a settlement offer from the insurance company, your wisest move is to take that offer to a personal injury attorney and have them review it in regards to your injuries and medical report. Ideally you’ve already connected with a lawyer before this point so that your initial demand letter can be drafted by an experienced professional, but know that it’s never too late so long as you haven’t yet signed on the dotted line.
Two of the main reasons why we believe it is in your best interest to connect with a personal injury lawyer are both tied to your compensation potential. For starters, there’s a very high likelihood that you will have no idea how to value your case. How much is a back injury really worth? How does your long-term health play into your claim amount? You probably have no idea how to answer these questions, but this is something we do for clients on a weekly basis. We know how to view your medical report and lean on past cases to establish a clear and fair compensation amount. When the insurance company wants to nickel and dime you and protect their interests, let us make sure you get a fair shake.
Similarly, we also know what types of compensation are available to you. You may not know that you’re eligible for certain economic or non-economic damages, so you may be leaving thousands of dollars on the table. We’re not just going to ask for compensation for medical bills and lost wages, we’re going to use our extensive knowledge of workers’ compensation laws to get you every penny you deserve.
Don’t be like most people and accept a first offer without consulting with a lawyer. We’ll happily review a settlement offer or jump in earlier in the process to create an initial demand letter that lets the insurance company know you mean business. For more information on how we can help you get a fair compensation package, connect with the team at Hey Workers today at (844) 439-675.
