men shaking hands negotiation agreement | Missouri Car Accident LawyerWhen you have been seriously injured in an automobile accident that was not your fault, the last thing you want to think about is how you are going to pay your hospital bills and other medical expenses. You might be tempted to try negotiating with an insurance adjuster on your own—and may be surprised at how quickly they offer a settlement.

However, talking to an adjuster can be a dangerous game: even if they offer what seems like a good deal, they are almost certainly offering you less compensation than your case is worth.

What the Car Insurance Company Wants

When another person’s act of negligence hurts you, you expect that their car insurance company will do what they can to make things right. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen.

While insurance adjusters are ordinary people, they still work for the insurance company. And insurance companies make their profits by:

  • Collecting regular payments from policy-holders; and
  • Minimizing the amount of money they pay toward claims.

The insurance company, in all likelihood, will do whatever it can to ensure that it gives you as little money as possible. That is, after all, how they make their money and keep their investors happy.

Why You Need an Attorney’s Help

When you are talking to an insurance adjuster, they may encourage you to avoid personal injury attorneys, saying that a lawyer’s intervention will only make negotiations more difficult.

But the truth is that insurance companies are afraid of experienced attorneys because they know a lawyer will not give in to pressure and let their clients take a low-ball, low-value settlement. Attorneys also know how to value an accident case. We look at expenses such as:

  • The sum of your medical bills
  • The cost of care you may need in the future, such as reconstructive surgery, physical therapy, and prescription medication
  • The income you lost taking time away from work to recover from your injuries
  • The income you will lose in the future do to reduced earning capacity

We can also help you claim damages for:

  • Emotional pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Disfigurement
  • Trauma

By collecting evidence to prove the other driver’s liability and then investigating the different ways your accident has affected your life—from your finances to your career prospects and mental health—we can calculate the value of your case and begin negotiations with the insurance company.

Megan D. Andrews
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