Difficulties Associated With Personal Injury Cases
Insurance companies for the “other side” work under the 3D philosophy: delay, deny and defend. The trick for them is to drag the process out for so long that the injured party gets discouraged and goes away for a settlement that is often way too low. Having the knowledge and experience of a personal injury/disability attorney is crucial.
One of the biggest difficulties associated with personal injury cases is the length of time it often takes to settle a claim. Most cases won’t become a lawsuit — just a claim that can eventually be settled with the insurance company or adjustor. In other cases, the offered settlement and the projected expenses may not add up, so the lawyer will appeal, often over and over until a lawsuit must be filed. The good news in this case is that the hearing stage is usually the best chance for a fair settlement.
Have patience and don’t be tempted to settle too soon after the accident and with too little information. In the beginning, you don’t know what the case will be worth because you don’t know the full extent of the damage or the amount of work that will be missed due to follow-up doctor visits, physical therapy, etc.