Personal injury claims might arise from various accidents or incidents, and insurance companies are often injured claimants’ first course of action. Unfortunately, insurance companies are not always easy to communicate with.
You can settle a personal injury claim by negotiating a settlement with the insurance company. In most cases, you must present evidence of your injuries and prove who was at fault for the accident. While you are not required by law to have an attorney represent you when settling with an insurance company, it is advisable that you hire one. An attorney can help you communicate with insurance companies in a way that benefits you most. Insurance companies often use your own words and admissions against you, and a lawyer can help you protect yourself. If you choose to try and settle your claim without a lawyer, you risk losing out on compensation or even having your claim denied altogether.
If you are considering filing a claim with an insurance company for a personal injury, you should speak to our Fayetteville personal injury lawyers first. To schedule a free case review with our team, call (479) 316-0438.
How Do I Settle a Personal Injury Claim with an Insurance Company in Arkansas
Injured accident victims can often file claims with insurance companies to recover compensation to help pay for medical bills, property damage, lost income, and more. Insurance companies cover a wide variety of accidents and injuries, and the nature of your claim will influence how you file your claim. Additionally, certain states might have different rules and requirements regarding insurance claims. Our Arkansas personal injury lawyers can help you get your claim started so that you can get compensation as quickly as possible.
In many cases, injured claimants file third-party claims with the insurance companies of the people who hurt them. Again, this might vary by state and type of claim, and you might end up filing a claim with your own insurance company instead. In either case, you must present evidence of your injuries. Insurance companies are used to fielding fraudulent claims, and you need strong evidence to show your accident and injuries are very real.
You might also need to prove fault, depending on the type of claim. In such a case, you not only need evidence of your injuries but of who caused them. Things like police reports, photographs from accident scenes, and witness statements can be used to prove fault to the insurance company.
Am I Required to Have an Attorney to Settle a Personal Injury Claim with an Insurance Company in Arkansas?
Although dealing with insurance companies often involves a lot of legal procedures and jargon, you are not required by law to hire a lawyer to help you. However, it is in your better interest to hire a lawyer when trying to settle a personal injury claim. The road to getting compensation from an insurance company may be full of numerous pitfalls, and small mistakes could cost you valuable compensation. Our Bentonville personal injury attorneys know how to navigate the insurance system and can help you get the maximum payout possible.
It is best to speak with a lawyer about your case as soon as possible, preferably before filing your claim. Even the initial filing process can be complicated, and mistakes in your claim submission could cost you big time. A lawyer familiar with filing insurance claims can help you avoid those mistakes and maximize your compensation.
Why You Should Have a Lawyer When Settling Personal Injury Claims with Insurance Companies in Arkansas
A lawyer can help in many ways when settling a personal injury claim with an insurance company. One of the most significant ways an attorney can help you is by gathering evidence to support your claims. Insurance companies usually demand evidence of your injuries before they agree to pay for anything. Sometimes, injured claimants are still recovering and cannot gather this evidence on their own, or they do not know where to find it. Our Harris personal injury attorneys can help you find the evidence you need to prove your claims and get compensation from the insurance company.
An attorney can also help you when communicating with insurance companies. While insurance companies claim they help people with expenses when hurt, this is not entirely truthful. Insurance companies will pay for your damages only if they absolutely must. These companies will look for any excuse to deny your claim. Even the smallest slip-up when discussing your case with an insurance representative could cost you compensation. A lawyer should know how to communicate without falling into these traps.
Having a lawyer is also a good idea because they can escalate the situation if the insurance company is uncooperative. If the insurance company denies your claim or will not offer you fair compensation, your lawyer can help you file a lawsuit to get the compensation you deserve.
Risks of Trying to Settle Personal Injury Claims with Insurance Companies Without an Attorney in Arkansas
If you decide to try and settle your personal injury claims with the insurance company on your own, you should be aware of the risks. Mistakes are much more likely when injured claimants decide not to hire an attorney to assist them. From submitting your claim to communicating with representatives to negotiating a final settlement, you are more likely to make mistakes and miss out on compensation. Unfortunately, the insurance system is fraught with complications and convoluted rules, and insurance companies often rely on claimants making mistakes so they do not have to pay as much.
You also risk making accidental admission of wrongdoing or responsibility without an attorney. Insurance companies will look for any reason to deny your claim. Even saying something as simple as “I can’t believe I let this happen,” could be construed as an admission that you caused your own injuries. If fault is important to your claim, the insurance company might use this statement to justify reducing your settlement or even denying your claim.
Without a lawyer, you are also at a greater risk of being offered unfairly low settlements. Negotiating a settlement should be a back-and-forth between you and the insurance company, and you never have to take the first offer. Without a lawyer, the insurance company might make an insultingly low settlement offer knowing that many claimants will accept it because they think they have no other options. Our Rogers personal injury attorneys know a lowball offer when we see it, and we can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
Call Our Arkansas Personal Injury Attorney for Help Now
If you were recently injured, our Springdale personal injury lawyers can help you reach a settlement with the insurance company. For a free case evaluation, call our offices at (479) 316-0438.