The “Do It Yourself” Philosophy
Personal injury attorneys in Montana work tirelessly to come to know your case inside and out and will not stop fighting until you get the justice you and your family deserve.
One mistake many clients make is going with the “Do It Yourself” philosophy. Personal injury cases are much more complicated than most people realize. If you attempt to present your own case and negotiate directly with the insurance company, you may make a mistake that can irreparably damage your case and reduce your ultimate settlement.
What You Don’t’ Know Can Hurt You
Here are some ways that trying to “do it yourself” in a personal injury case can hurt you:
Insurance Companies are Not on Your Side. First and foremost, insurance companies are not on your side. Regardless of the personal injury case, an insurance company, whether it’s yours or someone else’s, has its own best interests at heart—not yours. Some clients have given statements over the phone that were recorded and later used to deny the claim or limit the recovery. Insurance companies “cherry pick” their questions and only ask what they want to know. You can easily harm your own claim by what you might say in a moment of distress or frustration.
Do Not Sign a Quick Settlement Offer. If you are offered a monetary settlement by any insurance company, do not accept it before your consultation. Many clients do not realize the full extent of their injuries or the full value of their claims. You may compare your claim with the settlement received by a neighbor or a family member without realizing that your claim is different and could be worth much more. Only an experienced injury lawyer who regularly handles these cases can ensure you get all the compensation you deserve.
Do Not Sign a Medical Release Form. Most people don’t realize how something as simple as signing a medical release form can weaken their personal injury case. Insurance companies can use medical releases for many purposes without the signer’s knowledge.
Sometimes You Can Recover from Multiple Insurance Policies. Insurance policies are sometimes so confusing you may not even know what your insurance covers and what it does not cover. Let our experienced Law Firm figure this all out for you.
Always be aware that there is interplay between your auto insurance policy, your health insurance policy, Medicare and Medicaid, and other insurance. We have had clients come to us after trying to handle their own claims only to find that they have limited their potential settlements with one or more of the above. Let one of our experienced injury lawyer evaluate all of the potential sources of recovery and maximize your settlement from each.
We have had many people come to us after trying to handle their own cases only to find that their own actions have limited the amount they can recover. Don’t let that happen to you.
There are so many factors to consider in a personal injury case. It is our job to cover all the bases. When you contact our personal injury office to schedule your initial consultation, a legal assistant will get some pertinent information from you over the phone. Then an appointment will be made with one of our highly skilled personal injury lawyers, as soon as possible. Please bring all medical records, accident information, insurance information and anything else you think is important to the consultation.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed anywhere in Montana, please contact a Law Firm today to schedule a confidential, often times no-cost personal injury consultation. They will do all of the investigative work necessary to thoroughly prepare and present your case, and we will get you the compensation you deserve.
There are usually no fees up front and personal injury lawyers usually work on a contingency basis. They do not collect money until they win a settlement for you.