Thinking Beyond the Automobile Insurance Claim

Content Legally Reviewed By Matt Conner

Injury Attorneys Helping with Automobile Accident Insurance Claims Across Washington

An automobile accident can make your life difficult. After the crash, you are dealing with not only your injuries but the process of filing an auto insurance claim. You may not only have insurance claims adjusters contacting you, but attorneys, physicians, and numerous other parties can hop up on bandwagon.  The end result: you may be bombarded with phone calls.

The stress of the incident, combined with your pain and suffering, can be too much to handle. While you might be tempted to resolve it all quickly by filing a claim and taking whatever the insurance will give, it is important to think beyond this point.

When you file an accident claim with an insurance company, you are limited to the at-fault party’s maximum payout. Therefore, someone insured with the bare minimum will yield significantly less – often much less than you need to cover your damages.

In instances of catastrophic injuries, you may need to file a lawsuit. However, deciding when it is the right time to file a lawsuit is not easy.

When Should I File a Lawsuit after an Accident?

A lawsuit and insurance claim are not the same. The insurance claim keeps the case private between you and the at-fault party’s insurance company.  A lawsuit becomes a matter of public record and is no longer a private transaction. Now you are subjected to statutes and court procedures.

Deciding when it is the right time to file a lawsuit is not easy. You need compensation to cover medical costs, lost wages, and permanent injuries.

Insurance companies are looking out for their bottom line. They are a business; therefore, they will do what they can to minimize their losses. If that means putting a portion of blame on you for the accident, they will do just that.

If you are not sure whether a lawsuit is right or not, here are three steps to try:

1. Document everything you can. From the moment of the accident, you need to document everything. That includes the date, time, and location of the crash. Then, your medical treatments, costs, people that contact you about the case, and so forth. The more documentation you have, the easier it will be to file a lawsuit if your case comes to that.
2. Consult with a car accident attorney. It is best to consult with a car crash attorney. An attorney has experience in these types of cases and can provide valuable insight. Your attorney may decide that the insurance claim is adequate. Other times, they may decide that it is in your best interest to file a lawsuit. Car accident lawyers are trained to think out of the box, and they are impartial. Therefore, they can look at the bigger picture and ensure all costs are calculated into your settlement.
3. Make the decision. After you have gathered your documentation and consulted with an attorney, you can then decide if a lawsuit is the right approach. If your Washington car acident lawyer feels the insurance settlement is not enough, then a lawsuit will be your only means of recovering the compensation you need.

Consult with an Attorney for a Free Consultation

Luckily, there is no risk for meeting with a personal injury attorney. The team from Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner, PLLC is here to speak with you about your case. All consultations are confidential, and you have no obligation to hire our attorneys.

We can share our insight during the consultation and give you the information you need to decide.

Get started by scheduling a free consultation at 800-925-1875 or request one online.

About the Author

Matt Conner

Matt Conner has a proven track record of success. Following his graduation from Willamette University with a double major in mathematics and economics, Matt worked as an economist for the Office of Economic Analysis for the State of Oregon before moving onto working in mortgage banking and real estate. Although Matt would move on to law school shortly thereafter, his experience in the financial sector has provided him with valuable experience in how to achieve maximum compensation for his clients.

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