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The following article was
written for Resources
For Attorneys.com by David Hallstrom, a private
investigator, he is not now nor has he ever been an
attorney.
You have been in a
accident, automobile, slip and fall, workplace, etc..
Should you see or speak with an attorney?
As far as I am concerned,
the answer is always yes.
When should you consult
with an accident attorney? You should seek the advise of
an accident attorney as soon as possible after the
accident. Do not wait. You could be giving up certain
rights. You should definetly speak with an attorney before
speaking with the other sides insurance agent, adjuster or
attorney.
You say that you can not
afford an attorney. Most accident attorneys will consult
with you for free and, if they take your case, will handle
it on a contingency basis, not taking any fee untill the
case is settled. Most settlements are increased to cover
the cost of the attorney and therefore normally the
attorney costs you nothing. Many attorneys will also
advance all court costs for you if they are forced to file
suit.
You say that you were
injured, however, the insurance company has offered to pay
your medical bills and you do not feel it is right to take
advantage of them by asking for additional money for your,
pain, suffering, lost work, etc.. Don't you feel that you
as a person are worth something? Do you think so little of
yourself that you feel that your pain, suffering,
inconvience, etc. is worthless. You did not cause this
accident. What you are going through was caused by someone
else. You deserve to be compensated. The insurance
company, as a matter of good business, has already built
these types of costs into the premiums that they charge
their customers. If the money does not go to you it will
probably go to their shareholders or to increased salaries
or ?. Why shouldn't you be properly compensated. Remember
most good attorneys are ethical and although they will
attempt to obtain as much money for you as is due, they
will not take your case unless they feel that it is
proper.
You say someone else
admitted liability and said that their insurance will pay
all your damages. That's great, however, what if the
person changes his or her story later on and says that you
were at fault. Or what if the other side's insurance
company refuses to pay what you think is proper. In fact,
how do you know what is proper? Remember, an insurance
company may pay claims, but it is in business to make
money. It normally will not offer one dollar more than it
has to and if you are not represented by an attorney the
insurance company adjuster or attorney may feel that he or
she can "get away" with paying much less than
the claim may be worth. Additionally, what people state at
the time of an accident is not always what they state
after having spoken with a friend, insurance agent or
attorney. Finally, an insurance adjuster or insurance
attorney works for the insurance company, not for you. How
do you know that what they are telling you is correct or
true. Remember, in most instances, they are there to try
and save the company money. You need an attorney on your
side to tell you what your rights and obligations are.
You say that you were not
hurt that bad or at all. How do you know how badly you
were hurt. Some injuries do not show up for months. Other
injuries may aggrivate a prior problem. Even if you have
been found to be "ok" by a doctor, how do you
know that a problem will not come up later. If you have
insurance and did go to a doctor, who is going to pay your
co-pay or deductible. If you do not have health insurance,
who is going to pay for your examination which should
include xrays, etc.. If you retain an attorney he or she
can probably refer you to a doctor who will accept a lien
against the insurance settlement, thereby saving you from
paying money out of your pocket.
You say you have accident
insurance, why not let them handle everthing for you. Your
insurance company is there to defend any claims against
you not to represent you in any claims against other
parties. Additionally, they also are in business to make
money. How do you know if they are trying to settle a case
to help you or to save themselves money.
The foregoing article was
written by the author based on experiences he has had as a
private investigator representing both accident attorneys
and insurance companies. This article is not stated as a
legal opinion or as fact but instead is stated as opinion
of the author.
Permission is given to
reprint this article providing credit is given to the
author, David G. Hallstrom, and a link is listed to
Resources For Attorneys the owner of this article. Anyone
or any company reprinting this article without giving
proper credit and the correct link, is doing so without
permission and will be subject to legal action.
For a nationwide directory
of attorneys see usattorneysdirectory.us Or for more
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©Copyright 2004 Resources
For Attorneys. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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About
The Author
David
Hallstrom has been a licensed private
investigator for over thirty years. The
majority, over 2000, of his clients are
attorneys. He is also the President of Resources
For Attorneys.com, a legal and
lifestyle resource directory for
attorneys, lawyers and the internet
public. |
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