About 39.5 million physician office visits are due to unintentional injuries. Another 24.5 million of these injuries lead to emergency department visits. If you were recently injured, you might have a personal injury case on your hands. Should you fight an insurance company yourself?
Don’t negotiate with these insurance adjusters on your own! An insurance claims adjuster could use what you say against you. They have more experience with personal injury cases than you do.
Instead, consider hiring a South Carolina personal injury lawyer who knows how to negotiate with an insurance adjuster. They can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
On the fence about hiring a personal injury attorney? Here are seven reasons you shouldn’t fight an insurance company on your own.
By recognizing these risks, you can make the decision to hire a lawyer personal injury expert instead.
Read on to learn more!
1. You Probably Lack Experience
How much experience do you have with personal injury cases? If you’re asking yourself “what is an insurance adjuster,” call for help. Insurance adjusters will use your lack of experience against you.
Personal injury cases require a lot of time, experience, and resources. You’ll need to:
- Gather evidence
- Talk to police officers
- Interview witnesses
- Build your case
If you were injured, you’re already physically stressed. You shouldn’t waste valuable time trying to build a case, too.
Instead, look for an experienced personal injury lawyer. Their prior experience will work to your benefit.
There are currently over 135,221 personal injury attorneys and 56,494 personal injury law firms in the US. You have options. Don’t try to handle an insurance claims adjuster on your own.
Instead, look for a personal injury attorney who can handle your case. They already know how to negotiate with insurance adjuster teams. You can rely on their experience and expertise when building your case.
2. You Could Frustrate the Judge
If you don’t have an attorney, you’re considered “pro se.” If you don’t know the rules of pleading or courtroom etiquette, you could frustrate the judge. Judges don’t often like having pro se plaintiffs in their courtrooms.
Most pro se plaintiffs make costly mistakes and procedural errors. They cause unnecessary delays, too.
Don’t waste the judge’s time. Instead, find a personal injury attorney you can trust.
3. You Don’t Have the Proper Training
Your personal injury lawyer will have the necessary training to handle your case. They’ll know which laws and procedures can impact your lawsuit. After all, they went to law school and received specialized training to handle personal injury cases.
How much training do you have negotiating with insurance adjusters? Do you have the know-how and confidence necessary to handle personal injury cases?
If not, hire a trained professional to handle your case instead.
Hiring a South Carolina personal injury attorney will help you avoid making costly mistakes. Without training, you won’t know which pitfalls to avoid. You might make paperwork errors or follow the wrong procedural rules.
You’ll need to remain aware of the statute of limitations, too. The statute of limitations is the deadline you have to file your case. If the statute of limitations lapses, you’ve lost your chance!
By hiring a personal injury attorney, you can avoid making these costly errors.
In fact, not realizing you have a case is a common mistake. For example, were you in a car accident recently? Did you fail to get the driver’s contact and insurance information?
You might think you lose your chance to file a lawsuit. You didn’t!
Your car accident lawyer Columbia, SC can help you build your case, regardless of the mistakes you’ve made.
4. You Could Lose Money
You might think you’re saving money by not hiring a personal injury attorney. Unfortunately, you could lose money without proper representation.
The insurance claims adjuster will try to offer as little as possible. They know their offer is low, even if you don’t. Some people prefer to get money as soon as possible, instead of fighting for what they deserve.
Some insurance agencies also use a “deny first” strategy. They’ll deny your claim, even though they know it’s valid. This strategy can save them time and money.
Insurance adjusters will try to keep as much money in their pockets as possible. Only your personal injury lawyer will have your best interests at heart.
They know how to negotiate with an insurance adjuster. They fight insurance company adjusters on a regular basis. Your lawyer will make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Your lawyer won’t let you accept a lowball offer. With their help, you can receive more for your claim.
5. The Insurance Adjuster Could Fool You
The insurance claims adjuster will try to act like your friend. They’ll pretend they have your best interests in mind. They’ll even ask how you’re doing and voice concern for your wellbeing.
Don’t let the insurance adjusters fool you. This kindness is often part of their training. They think they can get more information if they act sympathetic.
Instead, let a Columbia personal injury attorney negotiate with the insurance adjusters for you.
They know what to expect from the adjusters, even if you don’t.
6. An Insurer Might Use What You Say to Hurt Your Case
Keep track of everything you say to everyone involved in your case. An insurance adjuster will likely use what you say against you. They could deny your claim or reduce their offer.
An adjuster is trained to look for admissions of liability. You might say something slightly contradictory. If they do, they’ll use it against you.
Let your lawyer talk to the insurance adjusters instead.
7. The Insurance Company Could Rush You
An insurance adjuster will also try to rush you through the settlement process. Are they making you feel like you need to settle immediately? Did they tell you the offer is only on the table for a limited time?
Talk to your lawyer. They’ll ensure the claim isn’t settled too soon. Instead, they’ll assess your case and help you build a proper lawsuit.
Why Fight an Insurance Company Alone? Hire a Personal Injury Attorney in SC.
Don’t try to fight an insurance company without legal counsel. You want to be sure you’ll receive all the compensation you deserve.
Do you know how to negotiate with an insurance adjuster? You don’t have to! Instead, hire a personal injury lawyer to negotiate on your behalf.
Their prior experience with personal injury cases will work to your advantage. They’ll keep your best interests in mind every step of the way.
Need help with your case? That’s what we’re here for.
Book a free consultation with our team to get started.
Looking for:
- An Orangeburg, SC lawyer?
- A Lexington, SC lawyer?
- A Columbia, SC lawyer?
- A South Carolina lawyer?
We’ve got you covered with personal injury law offices in these three cities, serving the entire state of SC.
Related
How to Avoid Being Tricked by an Insurance Adjuster
What Is a Personal Injury Lawyer?
When Should I File a Personal Injury Claim?
Personal Injury Claims: The Statute of Limitations for Suing in South Carolina
Personal Injury VS. Workers’ Compensation: What’s the Difference?
