Unexpected injuries can be costly, as even minor injuries can result in medical bills and lost earnings if you need to miss work. More serious injuries can cause lasting physical and financial struggles, and in either situation, it is important to take legal action when another party is responsible for causing your injuries. Many people in this situation wonder whether they should seek legal assistance or try to settle their injury case on their own.
Insurance Company Tactics
Insurance companies are supposedly there to cover the costs of injury victims. If someone else caused your injury, you should be able to file a claim against their auto insurance or property insurance policy and receive payment for your losses. Unfortunately, like many other situations, the insurance process does not always go as it should – or as you expect it will.
Instead, insurance adjusters are often incentivized by their employers to minimize settlement payments to injured claimants. Even if you have a valid claim and you present proof of your losses, you might be dismayed to receive a settlement offer that is far lower than you expected. Insurance companies will try to justify this inadequate offer in different ways, including:
- Challenging liability for your injuries
- Challenging the severity of your injuries
- Claiming you did not require certain medical treatments
- Claiming you did not need to miss work due to your injuries
Adjusters might also make it seem like your only options are to accept the first offer or walk away with nothing. Fortunately, this is not the case, as you have other courses of action.
Seeking a Legal Advocate
As experienced personal injury lawyers, our legal team has witnessed the many different tactics that insurance companies use to try to convince injured claimants to accept settlements that are far too low. We can evaluate the full value of your claim and negotiate with adjusters when they present an offer that will not cover even a portion of your losses.
In addition, if negotiations are unsuccessful, we can file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court against the liable party and the insurance company. The litigation process is complex, though a lawsuit often provides leverage to convince the insurer to offer a favorable settlement amount.
Contact Our Fargo Personal Injury Attorneys About Your Options Today
Our Fargo personal injury lawyers do not back down to insurance companies, and we have the experience to negotiate a claim and advocate for the full compensation you deserve. Having the right attorney on your side can often speed up the claim process and improve the outcome of your settlement. Please do not hesitate to contact one of our experienced personal injury attorneys, Tatum O’Brien, Tim O’Keeffe, or Sara Monson by email, or call O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys at 701-235-8000 or toll-free 877-235-8002.
