When Should You Consult With A Personal Injury Lawyer?

After suffering an injury from an auto accident, a product defect, or from a medical malpractice, many people become overwhelmed. There are many things to think about and many details that require personal attention. Obviously, the most important concern if you have been injured is for you to get the medical care you need for your injuries. Many times your injuries can be cared for quickly by medical professionals. More serious injuries may, however, require long-term medical care. During these times those injuries may leave you in a lot of pain. Doctor bills and therapy charges can add up quickly, not to exclude your loss of income due to work loss. For people who have suffered the loss of a loved one due to the negligence of another, there will be the additional costs associated with funeral and burial costs. Of lesser importance, but still a consideration, is the loss of property or property damage associated with a personal injury.  rnMost people have some type of insurance that will cover most of their expenses. Car insurance and health insurance policies will cover most, if not all, of your doctor and hospital bills. Some people carry disability insurance that will cover them for lost earnings. It is typical, however, for insurance companies to deny coverage for certain procedures, contest the amount of various charges, or to outright deny the coverage for a medical treatment or therapy. In addition, they will frequently deny or minimize your intangible losses and damages such as pain and suffering, reduced or lost quality of life, or loss of consortium.  rnThe injured person is then required to cover those losses themselves, or negotiate with their medical providers on the bills. Some will try to negotiate with the insurance companies for greater compensation. In these cases, they may do harm to any claim they may have for recovery of their losses. It is important to consult with a personal injury lawyer regarding your claims before you speak with an insurance adjuster. Your attorney will know how to deal with a difficult insurance company, what to do about settling your medical bills, and if necessary, how and when to file litigation in your case.  rnAlmost immediately following you being injured, you will be contacted by a claims adjuster from your insurance company or the other party’s company or both. The goal of the adjuster is to first and foremost to save their company money. They are seeking to pay out as little as possible for your injury. They will want to talk to you to get your statement and then may make an immediate offer to settle your claims. This offer is almost always extremely low (as little as a few hundred dollars) and is offered without knowing the full extent of your injuries and what medical treatment will be necessary. If you accept this initial offer, you will be prevented from recovering further on your claim other expenses arise. In almost every instance, a personal injury lawyer will advise you not to talk to any adjuster, even from your company, and not to accept any offers before having your case fully evaluated.  rnIn addition to be approached by insurance adjusters, police or other investigators may want to get your statement. In traffic accidents or cases involving a death, police will want to establish a cause and to determine who is at fault. It is best that you immediately contact a personal injury attorney before speaking with police or investigators to protect your rights and to ensure that you are not blamed for your injuries, or the death of another.