Handling a Personal Injury Case Without a Lawyer

In my over 35 years of practicing as a personal injury attorney in Houston, Texas, one of the single most significant mistakes that I see personal injury victims make is expecting the adjuster to be fair and reasonable on their claim.

Insurance companies in Texas are primarily for-profit and not appropriately regulated in claims handling. Worse, recent court opinions have limited attorneys’ abilities to hold insurers accountable for hardball or bad faith tactics.

Call us now for a FREE CONSULTATION!

Insurance Companies Will Always Seek to Pay as Little as Possible

Adverse insurance companies are not out to pay full and fair restitution for injuries sustained in an accident. Insurance companies in Texas try to pay as little as possible to settle personal injury claims.

Adjusters go to classes to dispute claims and are taught negotiation tactics as part of their job. Without a qualified lawyer, you may not get a fair offer for an injury caused by their insured. Don’t expect otherwise.

If you were hit by a drunk driver, speaking with a Houston accident lawyer before the adjuster is always advised. Always talk with a car accident lawyer before exploring a settlement.

Accepting Responsibility Does not Mean a Fair Offer

The victim misunderstands when they speak to the insurance company. The adjuster tells them that the insured caused the accident.

Those words mean that the insurance company will offer a reasonable and prompt settlement proposal to the unsuspecting consumer. Unfortunately, that could not be further from reality.

In some instances, adjusters will discourage hiring an attorney, which usually occurs when the injuries are very severe and a significant liability policy exists. They will also pressure you to accept a settlement.

It’s easy to see why an insurance company wouldn’t want a hurt person to hire a lawyer. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure that out.

If you are handling your case yourself, here are the secrets of negotiation for personal injury victims.

Call us now for a FREE CONSULTATION!

Your Odds Go Down Without A Lawyer

Thinking the insurance company will treat someone without a lawyer the same as someone with a good attorney is not reliable.

Frequently, even with an attorney, the only time an insurance company gets serious about fair compensation is when a jury is sitting in the box, or a trial is imminent. In some cases, it takes a judge or jury to make the determination. If you have questions about accepting a settlement offer, read this article.

Studies have shown those represented by quality attorneys net more money than those who choose to represent themselves.

How You Know You Need an Attorney

When attempting to handle a claim on their own, it is usually only after the adjuster first makes an offer of settlement that a personal injury victim realizes that they really need an attorney to help them with the process.

The real problem with this approach is that the insurance company has controlled the process with this person since day one and probably has done what is necessary to help defend the case at the expense of the victim’s claim.

There are some things the insurance company does not want you to know. The main one is you are in a much better position to get a fair settlement with a reputable attorney.

Usually, only after receiving a lowball offer do many understand the adjuster never intended to be fair.

The worse the injury, the more likely a victim will need the help of a top personal injury lawyer.

It is usually advantageous to obtain an attorney in the location where the accident occurred, as opposed to one who lives out of state or far away from the County where the occurrence occurred.

Get a Free Consultation with a Houston Personal Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in an accident in Houston, Texas, Contact the leading Houston personal injury lawyer at Baumgartner Law Firm for a no-obligation consultation regarding your rights and options.

6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy, Houston, TX, 77069