There are more cars on American roads today than ever before, and more cars means more accidents. In Texas, roughly 15,000 people suffer an injury because of a car accident each year. Whenever someone is injured in a car accident caused by negligence, they will have to deal with the negligent party’s insurance company. This can be a difficult process, and there are several things that you should know.
Remember that the insurance company is not interested in helping you. They aren’t interested in helping their client either. Their guiding principle is saving money. To that end, they often utilize tactics that will cause you to part with potential compensation that you are rightfully owed. You should know your rights in these situations, and strongly consider employing an attorney to help you along the way.
We know that a car accident can cause undue stress to you and your family. Whatever injuries you are dealing with, the Dallas car accident attorneys at The Queenan Law Firm, P.C. can make sure that you are compensated. We can work with you as you negotiate with the insurance company and bring your case to court if need be. To hear more about your options for dealing with insurance after a car accident in Texas, call our offices at (817) 476-1797. We offer free consultations.
What Should You Do When an Insurance Agent Contacts You After a Car Accident in Texas?
Typically, the other driver that is involved in the accident will file a claim with their insurance provider. It is common for the provider to have an agent contact any injured parties shortly after the claim is filed. The agent is trained to negotiate with injured victims of car accidents caused by their client’s negligence. Their goal is to reduce or obliterate the overall liability of the insurer that the accident has caused. Below are some tips to keep in mind during your initial conversations with the insurance representative.
Don’t Back Down From Insurance Agents If You Were Injured in Your Car Accident
One of the most costly elements of an insurance claim is medical expenses. If you sustained injuries from a car accident, you are likely to incur expenses because of immediate or extended medical care, such as ambulance rides, surgery, hospital stays or procedures, specialist appointments, prescriptions, and physical therapy.
The insurance agent may attempt to challenge you on the validity or necessity of your care. Whatever you say to them about your medical care or expenses is evidence that they can choose to introduce if your case were to go to court. You shouldn’t concede a thing. Make sure that you gather the appropriate documentation throughout the process so that you don’t get shorted out of anything.
Don’t Accept Insurance’s Version of Your Car Accident
An insurance agent might try to get you to agree to a version of the events that transpired which caused the car accident and your injury. The point of this is to get you to declare that you were negligent in some way, or that the other party was not negligent. Remember, the insurance company can use any of your statements to them as evidence if your case comes before a court.
You have no obligation to accept any version of the story that they provide. You also don’t have to provide any additional details that they may request. It is in your best interest to enlist the help of our car accident lawyers in Arlington, TX who can communicate with the insurance representative on your behalf and prevent you from making any statements that could be taken out of context.
Don’t Sign the First Settlement Offer That Insurance Makes After Your Car Accident
Insurance companies are well aware that many victims of car accidents have concerns about their ability to afford the immediate consequences of their injuries. If you are rendered unable to work or your car isn’t drivable because of the accident, insurance companies may look to take advantage of your cash-strapped situation. Therefore, the first offer that you receive will almost always contain a much lower amount than you might stand to recover otherwise.
If you sign a settlement offer, you relinquish your opportunity to get more from negotiating your settlement or taking your claim to court. Once you decline the first offer, the insurance company may stall for time as a tactic, but you should not be deterred. If you are concerned about your ability to afford to pursue your claim further, speak to our attorneys about contingency fees, which allow you to enjoy the help of counsel now and only pay later assuming you receive the settlement you deserve.
Settling with Insurance vs. Going to Court After a Car Accident in Texas
If insurance denies your claim or you are unable to come to terms on a settlement agreement, you have another avenue available. You can bring the insurance company to court. Court cases are expensive, but believe it or not, the insurance company wants to litigate even less than you do. The closer your claim gets to a courtroom, the higher the settlement offers typically get. You can settle your claim at any point up until the court reaches a final decision on your case. Many cases are settled in the waning hours before a trial is set to kick off. These are known as “courthouse steps” settlements and can be the most lucrative.
Our Houston car accident attorneys are well versed in car accident insurance settlements in Texas. We can advise you on which offers are fair and which are not. We can provide you with all of your options, and if it comes to it, we will prepare and try your case in court.
Get Legal Help for Dealing with Insurance After a Car Accident In Texas
If you were injured in a car accident caused by negligence, you deserve to be treated fairly and compensated justly. The seasoned Fort Worth car accident attorneys at The Queenan Law Firm, P.C. will make sure that you are covered. For a free consultation about your claim, call us at (817) 476-1797.