by Zayed Al-Sayyed

Personal InjuryMarch 29, 20210 comments

When to Hire an Attorney After a Car Accident

The Law Office of Zayed Al-Sayyed is no stranger to dealing with clients who have been involved in a car accident. We know that deciding whether or not to talk to a lawyer if you’ve been in a wreck or fender-bender can be a big decision. We want you to be able to make an informed decision so we’re laying out a few of the tricks that insurance companies like to play (and how to avoid them).

At the end of the day, insurance companies are in business to make money, and the more money they pay out to you, the less they have to add to their bottom line. There are several tactics insurance companies may employ to keep from paying you a fair settlement.

When deciding whether or not to hire an attorney after a car accident, time is of the essence. First, there are legal deadlines, the most well-known being the statute of limitations. This will vary depending on your state, but this is the time in which your case must be filed in court. Secondly, there may be deadlines involved with your insurance about the timeframe in which you notify them of the accident.

You will also want to make sure that you are able to preserve evidence from the accident. Quickly hiring an attorney after a car accident can help you preserve vital pieces of evidence that may no longer exist in the future.

Finally, an attorney can help with collecting information from witnesses which can be crucial depending on the nature of your case. While some people may choose never to hire an attorney after a car accident because no one was hurt, it’s still important to be aware of the 3 following tricks insurance companies will use to benefit them and not you.

1. Delay Your Settlement

Insurance companies will delay paying your settlement for 3 main reasons. First, the longer they hold onto your money, the longer they can continue to collect interest off of it. Second, the longer they hold onto your money, the higher the chances you’ll need money to pay for medical bills, debt, etc. They’re hoping you become desperate enough to take a low settlement. Finally, if they delay long enough, the statute of limitations will run out and you will lose the ability to collect any money for your injuries.

2. Pressure You Before You’ve Had a Chance to Speak with a Car Accident Attorney

There’s a good chance you will be contacted by your insurance company or the other person’s insurance company shortly after your car accident. Remember that you do not have to speak to them before speaking to an attorney and doing so may put you in a position where you are accepting a settlement for less than what you deserve.

3. Deny Your Claim

This is a common practice among many insurance companies, and they will find ways to deny your claim and hope that you will walk away with nothing or with a much smaller settlement. Remember, the goal of the insurance company is to make money, not pay you.

If you have recently been in a car accident and would like to know your options, please visit our website at https://alsayyedlaw.com and see if we can help you with your case. We look forward to serving you.