What should I do if an insurance adjuster contacts me after my paralyzing accident?
Dealing with Insurance Adjusters after a Fort Worth Area Resident Has Been Paralyzed in an Accident
It is crucial to seek representation immediately so that your interests are protected from the outset. In this article we will address dealing with insurance companies after the accident.
It is normal for the injury victim or their family to be contacted by an insurance company very soon after the accident. It is important to understand that these insurance representatives have adverse interests and are agents of a profit-motivated insurance company. It is common for the insurance adjusters to suggest that the injury victim not contact a lawyer and that people are better off dealing directly with the insurance company. This is all in an effort to try and get the injury victim to settle quickly for an inadequate amount. For the reasons stated below, it is strongly suggested that Texas paralysis victims ignore any quick settlement offers or advice from adverse parties after such a tragic injury.
One of the primary reasons for not accepting a quick settlement offer is that a victim’s damages cannot be calculated immediately after an accident. Damages in a serious injury case include many different things such as medical bills paid and incurred, the cost of future care, lost wages, future economic loss from reduced earnings, as well as pain and suffering. The cost of future care and future economic loss are not something that can be quickly determined. Quite often it will be necessary to go through multiple medical procedures and evaluations before professionals can render a reasonable estimate as to the future cost of care. Also, a long-term prognosis will be necessary in order for an expert such as an economist to reasonably calculate future economic loss. Accepting a settlement without having necessary information can create a situation where a victim does not receive fair compensation.
Hiring a personal injury attorney to protect your interests and to deal with the insurance company is crucial for victims of paralysis in Fort Worth or elsewhere in Texas. Your attorney will immediately notify the insurance company that you are represented and the adjusters will deal directly with your attorney.
Your lawyer will keep the adjusters up to date as to the status of your treatment and, when damages can be reasonably calculated, will send a demand for settlement. If the insurance company does not offer a reasonable amount then your attorney can begin the litigation process.
When selecting an attorney for a paralysis case it is important that you select a firm which handles serious injuries and in which the lawyers have meaningful experience. We also suggest retaining attorneys who are board certified and a firm which employs a full time investigator. Finally, you should determine whether the firm is large enough to advance court costs and whether the office can devote multiple attorneys to your case. This is true whether you were injured in counties including Tarrant, Dallas, Johnson, and Wise as well as Fort Worth, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Haltom City, Richland Hills, North Richland Hills, Watauga, Grapevine, Colleyville, Southlake, Arlington, Keller, Grand Prairie, and Dallas.