Should I Deal With The Insurance Company Myself?
If you recently suffered a personal injury and are thinking of filing a personal injury claim, you may be wondering whether it is a good idea for you to deal with the at-fault party’s insurance company by yourself. So, should you deal with the at-fault party’s insurance company yourself? You are not obligated to hire an attorney to help you file your personal injury claim. In other words, you have the right to deal with the at-fault party’s insurance company alone. However, in most cases, it is best to hire an attorney to help you deal with the insurance company. The following are some questions to ask yourself to determine whether you should deal with the insurance company yourself or hire a personal injury attorney to handle your claim.
Were You Partially at Fault?
If you were partially responsible for the accident that caused your personal injury, hiring an attorney to help you handle your claim is in your best interest. An attorney can help you handle any claims of comparative negligence against you. The comparative negligence defense usually comes up when the plaintiff has contributed to their accident and injuries.
An attorney can ensure you are allocated the correct percentage of fault. In Florida, if a claimant is also to blame for their personal injury, their compensation must be reduced by their percentage of fault. A higher percentage of fault would mean being denied more money. You don’t want to risk that happening. If you work alone, you may not know what your share of the blame should be.
Is the Issue of Liability Clear?
Are you confident you understand what the other party did wrong that caused your accident and injuries? If you are not confident you do, it is best that you hire an attorney to help you handle your claim. An attorney can conduct thorough investigations to determine what exactly caused your accident. If your case requires experts, your attorney can help you find skilled experts to work with.
Do You Possess Negotiation Skills?
You do not have to accept the first settlement offer from the insurance company. In fact, it is advisable that you never take the first settlement offer from an insurance company. Often, the first offer does not account for all damages. In most cases, the first offer is way less than what your claim is worth. Before accepting a settlement offer from the at-fault party’s insurer, ensure you negotiate. If you don’t possess negotiation skills or are not confident with your skills, it may be worthwhile to hire an attorney to negotiate on your behalf.
Can You Afford To Hire an Attorney?
If you are worried that you can’t afford to hire an attorney, you should know that most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means you can access legal representation without needing to pay legal costs upfront.
Contact Us for Legal Help
If you are considering filing a personal injury claim, you should avoid going at it alone. Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the West Palm Beach, Fort Myers, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Ocala, Orlando, Naples, Bradenton, Daytona Beach, and Melbourne areas.
