People get into car accidents all the time. Some of these accidents are very serious. Many of them prove fatal. In fact, there were close to 1,400 fatal car accidents in Georgia in 2020. The number of accidents were higher than they were in 2019 despite the fact that many people were working from home due to COVID. As you can imagine, Georgia injury lawyers were busier than ever. Most people know better than to handle their own car accident case. Instead, they call some of the best auto accident lawyers in Georgia and ask for help.
Here, we’ll explain why it makes sense to hire an attorney to handle your car accident case. We’ll also discuss the benefit that come along with retaining an experienced Georgia injury lawyer.
Are You Legally Required to Hire an Experienced Georgia Injury Lawyer?
While there’s no law that says you need to hire an attorney, it’s never a good idea to handle this sort of thing on your own. It’s one thing if the insurance company agrees to pay your claim right away. It’s another thing all together if they deny your claim. If this happens, you’ll have two options. You can file an appeal, or you can walk away with nothing. Since this second option is unacceptable, your best bet is to hire a lawyer who is familiar with the law. Our attorneys not only know the law, but they also know how to deal with the insurance companies.
If you’re afraid that it will be expensive to hire one of the best auto accident lawyers in Georgia, think again. When you hire one of our accident lawyers, you don’t have to pay anything upfront. Not only is your initial consultation free, but you don’t pay a penny until we settle your case.
The Insurance Company Will Take Your Claim More Seriously if You Have an Attorney
One obvious benefit to hiring an attorney is that the insurance company will take you more seriously. When an insurance adjuster realizes an accident victim is representing themselves, they tend to treat their claim as less important than others. They may move your claim to the bottom of the pile. They’d rather spend their time dealing with attorney cases.
The other thing about insurance companies is that they’ll try to take advantage of you if you aren’t represented. They may deny your claim all together, hoping that you’ll walk away without putting up a fight. Or they may offer you a really low settlement, hoping you’re desperate for cash.
If they do this, make sure you don’t sign anything. The insurance company will ask you to sign a settlement release. This document will state that you aren’t allowed to pursue the defendant for additional monies down the road. Rather than have this happen, you’re better off hiring one of the best auto accident lawyers in Georgia from the start.
Your Georgia Injury Lawyer Will Try to Negotiate a Settlement
The ideal situation is one in which you don’t have to take any legal action. Your Georgia injury attorney will try to negotiate a settlement of your claim with the insurance adjuster. They know how they operate and are familiar with how each insurance company behaves in the face of possible legal action.
For example, some of the larger insurance company have an unwritten rule to pay small claims immediately but to delay payment of larger claims. Their hope is that you do sue and they’re able to settle for much less down the road. Or they think you’ll walk away, assuming there’s no point in addressing the issue.
Your lawyer won’t let this happen. They’ll reach out to the insurance adjuster and find out why your claim was denied. They’ll file an appeal of your claim, if warranted. They’ll also feel the insurance adjuster out to see if they have a settlement figure in mind. If they’re unable to settle your claim, they’ll have no choice but to file suit on your behalf.
Can You Still Settle if Your Attorney Files Suit?
Just because your lawyer files suit, that doesn’t mean your case won’t settle. In fact, more than 95% of all personal injury lawsuits settle long before trial. This is because settling is better for all parties involved.
Trials are expensive and very time consuming. Your lawyer will have to hire expert witnesses and accident reconstruction specialists. They may have to track down witnesses and spend money on depositions to get a statement from them.
All these things cost money. The money your attorney spends on your case will have to be repaid out of your settlement proceeds. You’re better off settling early. This way, you don’t risk losing in court. You’ll also be able to receive a lump sum settlement instead of waiting around for payment over the long term.
Just know that, either way, your Georgia injury lawyer will work hard to negotiate a fair settlement. They won’t encourage you to agree to a settlement that doesn’t cover your out-of-pocket expenses.
Contact an Experienced Georgia Injury Lawyer Right Away
If you want the best chance of having your claim paid in full, you should call a skilled Georgia injury lawyer right away. They can review your case and help you file your initial claim. Once filed, they’ll check in with the insurance adjuster to get a status update on your case. Ideally, they’ll pay your claim. But if they don’t, you’ll have to file suit and that’s not something you should do all by yourself.
We suggest that you call our office today and schedule your free, initial consultation. Take the time to sit down with a seasoned attorney who can help settle your case. With so much at stake, you don’t want to take any chances. Nor do you want to jeopardize your chances of recovery.
Since your first consultation is free, you really don’t have anything to lose.
