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Answers
Rest assured that most car accident injury claims are settled instead of litigated, especially if the defendant insurance company investigates and finds that their driver is totally at fault. However, it is always good to have leverage even in a settlement, and one way to make sure that the playing field is even is to retain an experienced lawyer who knows the ins and outs of car accident claim settlements. It is the insurance company's goal to minimize any settlement payments; it is your goal to receive the total compensation due you. An attorney knows what to look out for, including any low ball or delay attempts.
If your injuries are particularly severe, the insurance company may seek to settle simply because with a jury trial, there is a measure of sympathy that goes to the victim. A sympathetic jury may award an even larger compensation than what the at-fault insurer had planned to pay out because in some states, punitive damages can be awarded in cases of malice or wanton negligence.
By retaining an attorney, you can put forth an offer to settle and ensure that your damages are not reduced through any bad faith tactics.
Talk to a Car Accident Attorney to find out more about getting the insurance company to offer a settlement that is fair.
References:
Posted by Sharon Cullars on 28 Apr 2010
1 person found this useful
(1 Votes)