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No person plans on getting into an automobile accident. When it happens there is usually a scramble to figure out the best path forward. One of the first questions you will have is “What can I do to recover funds fast because of an injury or damage caused by another individual?”. Personal injury law cases are often misunderstood by the general public.
The purpose of our blog is to help inform those looking for answers to questions regarding Florida law and how it relates to personal injury. If we can help remove some of the doubt and fill in some of the blanks for the reader, our goal for this blog has been met.
Today we want to discuss the three most common misconceptions as it applies to personal injury cases here in Florida.
I Don’t Need an Attorney if I Have Insurance
This is a misconception that we see often. People assume that because they are paying their insurance company hard-earned money that the company is beholden to them and that their best interests are shared. This is simply not the case. Insurance companies exist for one reason: To Make Money.
Insurance companies want to settle a case as quickly and as cheaply as possible. This rule applies all the way around. Whether they are working for you or for the other party, their goal is to get out as inexpensively as possible.
I Can Always Appeal if I Accept an Offer Which Turns Out to be Unfair
This is false. The fact is that once you accept the offer and sign the settlement release the other party and their insurance company is free and clear of paying further compensation. Therefore, it is always in your best interest to have an attorney by your side. You want to make sure you don’t sign anything without legal consultation.
Recently I have had several clients contact me after Progressive Insurance Company offered them money to settle their case the same day of the accident. Progressive, or should I say aggressive, sent the settlement release by email for the client to DocuSign and then deposited the settlement money into the potential client’s checking account. Of course, the amount Progressive offered and settled the case for was a fraction of what the persons case was worth had they called me before they signed the settlement release. REMEMBER IT IS FREE TO CALL ME FOR MY OPINION OF YOUR CASE PRIOR TO SIGNING ANY INSURANCE DOCUMENTS.
The Longer I Hold Out the More Money I Will be Rewarded
Again, this is a very common misconception. Although not accepting the first offer is generally good advice, this doesn’t guarantee that you will be properly compensated for your injury and damage. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney is the only way to guarantee you have someone working for your best interests.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that in a personal injury case, the insurance company and their adjusters are apathetic to your plight at the very least and working against you at worst. You need someone on your side who has your best interests in mind. This is where hiring a personal injury attorney pays off. We provide you with a free consultation and we do not get paid unless you get paid.