Car accidents occur daily, and every day, people file accident claims with an insurance company and wait to hear back about their settlement. While commercials and advertisements make it appear as though making a car accident claim is easier than ever, that doesn’t mean you should go into the process of securing money for your accident-related losses without legal representation.

There are potential risks associated with negotiating a car accident settlement alone. An experienced car accident attorney does more than protect your rights. They will advocate for you and can explain why settling your claim without a lawyer can cost you.

 

Risks Associated with Settling a Car Accident Claim Without a Lawyer

First, it helps to understand how insurance companies operate. These are for-profit companies that prioritize profit margins to satisfy shareholders. Substantial insurance payouts eat into that profit, which means it is always in the company’s best interest to pay accident victims as little as possible following an accident. There are numerous tactics and strategies these companies and adjusters use to get an individual to settle for less than they deserve.

Some of the potential risks associated with settling a car accident claim without legal advice or representation can include:

  • Underestimating your losses – Many lowball settlements are made to intentionally undercut the extent of your medical bills or other losses. A quick offer may seem ideal because it can help cover your immediate expenses. However, will it cover rehabilitation costs, physical therapy, continuing care, or additional doctor’s visits and treatments? Without an attorney, you risk accepting pennies for your losses instead of your claim’s full and fair value. People without legal representation receive significantly lower payouts than those who work with an experienced car accident attorney.
  • Claim denial – An attorney doesn’t just manage your claim. An attorney can offer advice that helps prevent common situations that may jeopardize your payout. Your actions post-accident can and will be scrutinized to diminish or deny your payout. An attorney can help keep your claim on track and advise you about how to avoid any actions or statements that can hurt your claim, protecting you from the aggressive and potentially invasive tactics insurance adjusters use.
  • Playing on your inexperience – Insurance policies are detailed and complex. When was the last time you carefully reviewed the extensive document you received from your insurance provider? Adjusters may play on a victim’s inexperience, manipulating them into giving a recorded statement, which they can then pick apart for inaccuracies or missing details to diminish the value of your claim or outright deny it. Your statements can be used against you, even when you may not understand the full legal implications of the situation. They may also use a victim’s inexperience or lack of legal knowledge to pressure a person into accepting an inadequate settlement offer.
  • Inability to gather supporting evidence – Car accident victims without legal representation also risk being unable to collect and gather the evidence necessary to support their claim. Significant injuries can prevent a person from thoroughly documenting the scene of an accident, gathering information about the at-fault driver, or recovering other vital evidence, like dash cam footage or other recordings, that can help them build a solid claim. Without proof of the extent of your injuries or that their insured was at fault, an insurer can easily justify offering a lowball settlement offer.
  • Failing to understand and pursue other legal options – Depending on your situation, you may have other legal options for pursuing compensation, such as filing a personal injury lawsuit. Insurance adjusters often use tactics to get you to settle quickly and for as little money as possible. Signing on the dotted line means you give up the right to sue for additional compensation later. You may also encounter issues when a company drags its feet during the claim process. This tactic can run out the clock, so you miss the legal deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit and have no choice but to accept their minimal offer.

Working with a lawyer mitigates these risks. A Wisconsin car accident attorney can carefully review your situation and help you avoid the pitfalls that plague victims without personalized and aggressive legal representation. You are free to focus on recovering from your injuries while your attorney focuses on recovering meaningful compensation on your behalf, taking the stress and worry off your shoulders.

 

Discuss Your Situation with a Wisconsin Car Accident Lawyer Today

There can be significant repercussions to managing a car accident claim without a lawyer who can provide guidance and sound strategic advice. You risk losing out on valuable compensation to cover your injuries. At Atterbury, Kammer & Haag, S.C., our car accident attorneys work with you from day one to fight for maximum compensation and protect your legal rights throughout the claim process.

Contact our office today and request a free consultation. We happily serve car accident victims throughout Wisconsin, including Madison and Middleton.