If you’ve been injured in an accident in Madisonville, TX or Cameron, TX, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit to receive compensation for your damages, such as medical bills or lost wages. However, before you file a lawsuit, you may be contacted by another insurance company. Learn about why you might want to be careful with how you communicate with the other insurance company before you speak with a personal injury lawyer.
When you have been injured and an accident, the claims for your accident will either be filed with your insurance or the insurance of the person or entity who is responsible for your injuries and damages. For that reason, it’s not uncommon for the other insurance to attempt contacting you after the accident, usually to try to make a quick settlement before you can speak with a personal injury attorney.
However, talking to the other insurance company without the help of a lawyer in Cameron, TX or Madisonville, TX is a mistake. If you are being contacted by the insurance other insurance company, it’s best to say as little as possible and get off the phone quickly.
What You Should Say and Do
If the other insurance company is persistent and continues contacting you, the best method to deal with them is to refer the insurance adjuster to your legal representation. Be polite but firm as you insist that all questions about your case can be answered by your lawyer.
One option you have when the other insurance company is contacting you is to screen the call or email. However, the best course of action is to make it clear that you have legal representation and that you need to consult with your lawyer about any offers the insurance company makes you.
Why Would the Other Insurance Company Contact You?
There are a few reasons why the other insurance company may be interested in contacting you. For example, insurance adjusters have a tendency to contact personal injury victims quickly after an accident to offer a settlement so that the insurance company does not have to pay for the full cost of your damages. Other reasons the insurance company may contact you can include:
To Gather Evidence Against You
If you’re being contacted by the other insurance company in Cameron, TX or Madisonville, TX, it’s probable that the insurance adjuster is trying to obtain information that can be used against you to undermine your claim. For example, the insurance company may try to get you to admit fault for the accident or try to convince you that the value of your claim should be lower.
The insurance adjuster could also try to get you to minimize your damages or injuries or include details about the accident that may contradict other evidence that may be involved in your case. It’s also common for the insurance adjuster to misconstrue what you say or twist your words.
Phrases to Avoid
It’s important to avoid saying anything that could make you liable for the accident or undermine your claims for injuries. For this reason, you should never say that you’re fine or that you’re sorry for the accident. Although these phrases are innocuous, they can also be used against you and prevent you from seeking compensation for your injuries.
To Convince You to Accept a Lower Settlement
If the other insurance adjuster is not trying to get you to admit fault or gather evidence to be used against you, they may try to get you to accept a settlement. It’s common for the first settlement from the other insurance company to be a lowball offer that doesn’t fully cover the economic and non-economic damages you may have sustained in the accident.
By getting you to quickly accept a settlement, the insurance company benefits by not having to pay for all of your medical bills, pain and suffering, or other damages. If you receive a verbal or written settlement offer, you should forward this offer to your lawyer for advice.
Why Might You Need to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Madisonville, TX?
One reason you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit In Madisonville, TX or Cameron, TX is if you have been injured in an accident through no fault of your own. For example, workplace accidents caused by negligence from your employer or a car accident caused by the other driver being under the influence are common reasons to file a personal injury lawsuit. Other examples of a personal injury lawsuit could include:
- Medical malpractice
- Premises liability
- Product liability
- Wrongful death
You Deserve Compensation
In general, most people file personal injury lawsuits to seek compensation for their damages after an accident. One of the most common damages is medical bills for treatments you needed after the accident and treatments you need going forward for severe injuries.
Compensation can also include lost wages, pain and suffering, disfigurement, disability, and wrongful death. Filing a lawsuit is one way you can seek justice for the pain, inconvenience, and financial hardships you have had to endure because of an accident.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help You in Cameron, TX?
A personal injury lawyer can be an immense resource when you are filing a lawsuit for personal injury. For example, your lawyer can talk to the other insurance company for you so that you can stop being contacted. Your lawyer will also advise you about whether settlement offers seem fair for the value of your damages, including non-economic damages.
Prove Your Claim
A personal injury lawyer can help you investigate the cause of your accident and gather evidence that will prove your claim. For example, for a car accident, your lawyer can help you obtain crash reports, police reports, video and photographic evidence, forensic vehicle analysis, and much more. All of this evidence can be used to prove your claim so you can receive compensation.
Build Your Case
In Texas, not all personal injury cases are as straightforward as they first appear. For car accident cases, Texas has a doctrine called comparative negligence, in which both drivers can be considered partially liable for the accident. You will need the assistance of a lawyer to prove that you are less than 51% responsible for the accident, which will allow you to receive a portion of the compensation that is owed to you.
Likewise, if you were injured at work, you may need the expertise of a lawyer to help you secure worker’s compensation benefits from your employer. This is because some employers are hostile to worker’s compensation claims. You will need a lawyer to represent your interests so that you can receive compensation for the injuries you sustained on the job.
If you have been injured in an accident, then you are entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. However, the other insurance company may insist on contacting you to gather evidence to use against you or to offer you a settlement that does not compensate for the total value of your damages. To learn more about what to do if the other insurance is contacting you, please contact Gutierrez Law today.
