In my over 40 years of practicing as a personal injury attorney in Houston, Texas, one of the most significant mistakes I see personal injury victims make is expecting the adjuster to be fair and reasonable in their claim. This is especially true for those handling a personal injury case in Houston without the assistance of a lawyer.
Insurance companies in Texas are primarily for-profit companies and are not appropriately regulated in claims handling. Worse, recent court opinions have limited attorneys’ abilities to hold insurers accountable for hardball or bad-faith tactics.
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. Adverse insurance companies in Texas seek to spend as little money as possible to settle a claim for personal injury.
Adjusters go to classes to dispute claims and are taught negotiation tactics as part of their job. You will be disappointed if you expect to receive a fair offer for an injury caused by their insured without the assistance of a qualified lawyer.
If you were hit by a drunk driver, speaking with a Houston accident lawyer before speaking with 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 misconception generally occurs when the victim first contacts the insurance company and is told by an adjuster that their insured was responsible for the accident or words to that effect.
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 may discourage hiring an attorney, typically when the injuries are severe and a significant liability policy is in place. And pressure you to settle.
It does not take a rocket scientist to understand why an adverse insurance company may not want a seriously injured person to hire an injury attorney.
If you are handling your case yourself, here are the secrets of negotiation for personal injury victims.
Your Odds Go Down Without A Lawyer
Any belief that the insurance company will treat an individual without a lawyer the same as one with a reputable attorney is likely to be misguided.
Frequently, even with an attorney, an insurance company becomes serious about fair compensation only when a jury is in session or a trial is imminent. Sometimes, 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 that those represented by quality attorneys net more money than those who choose to represent themselves.
How Do You Know If 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 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 from the outset and has likely taken steps to defend the case at the expense of the victim’s claim.
There are some things the insurance company would rather you not know. The primary benefit is that you are in a much better position to obtain a fair settlement with a reputable attorney.
Usually, only after receiving a lowball offer do many understand that the adjuster never intended to be fair.
The more serious the injury, the more likely a personal injury victim will need the assistance of the best personal injury attorney they can find.
It is usually advantageous to obtain an attorney in the location where the accident occurred, rather than one who lives out of state or far away from the County where the accident occurred.
Get a Free Consultation with a Houston Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one has 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
Call (281) 587-1111 or send us an email!
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