If you know you aren’t at fault for causing the accident that injured you, you may assume the claims process will be relatively straightforward. However, this assumption is a mistake that could jeopardize your financial future. You can still benefit from hiring a personal injury lawyer in San Antonio to handle your case and make sure you don’t get taken advantage of.
You May Face Allegations of Fault
You may know you did not cause an accident, but this might not be the story an insurance company attempts to tell. The other party involved or their insurance provider may try to blame you for either causing the incident or contributing to the extent of your own injuries (“failure to mitigate damages”). These are common tactics used to avoid large payouts.
Disputed liability can get in the way of your recovering fair financial compensation for your losses. In Texas, there is a modified comparative negligence law that restricts a claimant’s ability to earn compensation past 51 percent of fault. This means if you are allocated more than 50 percent of the blame for an accident, you will be barred from receiving any compensation.
With less than 51 percent of fault, your financial recovery will be reduced by an equivalent amount. If you are assigned 10 percent of fault, for example, a $100,000 reward would be reduced by $10,000. It is important to hire an attorney to help you protect your recovery if you are being blamed for an accident or your injuries.
Serious Injuries Deserve Legal Representation
Whether or not you are at fault, if an accident leaves you with significant or catastrophic injuries or other substantial losses, it is in your best interest to hire a San Antonio car accident lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to fight for the case outcome you deserve for what may be decades or a lifetime of related medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Without an attorney representing your best interests, you are more at risk of an insurance company taking advantage of you and undervaluing your serious injuries. If one party does not have enough insurance, an attorney can investigate other potential sources of recovery to protect your future.
Insurance Companies Cannot Be Trusted
Even if the evidence proves that you were not at fault for an accident, the insurance company that receives your claim will most likely try other methods of getting you to settle for less than you deserve. Insurance providers always put their own profits first.
You may have to combat many tactics used by an insurer to minimize your payout, such as:
- Unreasonable claim delays
- Requests for excessive evidence
- Failure to properly investigate
- Lack of coverage available
- Policy lapses or missed deadlines
- Comparative negligence
- Refusal to offer a reasonable settlement
- Wrongful claim denial
- Insurance bad faith
A lawyer who works for you will be able to handle insurance claims adjusters to protect your financial recovery. Your lawyer can handle settlement negotiations, meet important deadlines, and use his or her legal expertise to represent you in court, if necessary.
You can enjoy numerous benefits by hiring a personal injury attorney to represent you during an accident claim in Texas, including higher odds of securing a fair settlement. Contact Hill Law Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with our lawyers to learn more.