A car accident can sneak up on you at any time, even if you’re an excellent driver. When you’re involved in an accident that’s not your fault, South Carolina law allows you to claim compensation from insurers or, if necessary, a lawsuit.
If you live in Georgetown, SC, and you’ve been involved in an accident, don’t take the insurance company’s first offer! Instead, contact the Georgetown car accident attorneys at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward first to get their opinion about any settlement offer. You could be leaving money on the table.
The Dangers of Initial Car Accident Settlement Offers
An insurance company is not a non-profit. They will always try to give the least amount of money possible under the law and the rules of the policy. Part of a car accident attorney’s job is to question how an insurance adjuster came to a settlement amount and argue for something better.
Many insurers will reach out to you quickly after an accident and try to get information. Based on that, they could make you an offer over the phone. The offer might look attractive at the time, but it’s often far less than what you could get.
Many injuries don’t show up until weeks after a car accident, and some are not as minor as they seem. As soon as you accept an offer from an insurer, you lose your right for more compensation later. Instead, tell them you plan to speak with a lawyer, then reach out to us.
Be Mindful of Insurance Company Tactics to Devalue Your Claim
A friendly initial offer isn’t the only thing an insurance company might do to offer you less than you deserve. Some other tactics we’ve seen from insurance companies to devalue victims’ claims include:
- Taking their time to get back to you while your bills pile up, hoping financial need forces you to settle on their terms.
- Asking seemingly-innocent questions and using your answers against you once you file your claim.
- Getting you to admit that you had some level of fault so they can lower or deny you compensation.
Once you have a Georgetown car accident attorney from the Thumbs Up Guys on your side, the tricks stop. Insurers are forced to go through your lawyer about your claim. Quite often, your settlement offer will jump by several thousand dollars at least just from having a lawyer on your side.
Is Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer Expensive?
Personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means that if you don’t win, they don’t get paid. A skilled personal injury lawyer will work to ensure that you will get a fair settlement on top of their contingency fee.
Compared to being at the mercy of an insurer that wants to pay you as little as possible, there is no question that it’s better to have a personal injury lawyer on your side after an accident. If you’re unsure, you can use a free consultation to get your questions answered.
Get Help After a Car Accident in Georgetown
If you’ve been hurt in an auto wreck because of a negligent driver and need to speak with a Georgetown car accident attorney, start with the team at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward Injury Lawyers. We’ve been helping people across South Carolina get compensation for their personal injury cases.
Take a look at our case testimonials, then call us at the number on your screen to schedule a free consultation. We look forward to helping you get fair compensation from the insurance companies.