In the days after an auto accident, your head is probably spinning. You have to worry about getting your car fixed. You’re still waiting to hear from the doctor about whether you need surgery. You had to tell your boss that you’ll be out of work for 4-6 weeks. The last thing you feel like dealing with is the insurance company. This can sometimes be the biggest headache of all. When you get to the point where you want to scream, that’s when it’s time to call for help. Go online and do a search for the “top auto accident lawyer near me.” Our website will pop up and you go right online and schedule your free, initial consultation.
During this first meeting, a few things will transpire. First, we’ll need to learn about what happened. Tell us whatever you remember from the day of your accident. Then we’ll want to see whatever paperwork you’ve received from the insurance company thus far. They probably heard about your crash, even if you didn’t submit your claim forms yet. If possible, you’ll want to bring a copy of your police report and medical records. This just gives us a chance to learn as much as we can about your auto accident. Then, our personal injury attorneys in Athens, Georgia will reach out to the insurance company. We’ll find out if an adjuster has been assigned to your case. If so, that’s who we will direct your accident claim to. If not, we’ll help you fill out your insurance claim paperwork and get it sent in right away.
If You Don’t File Your Claim Properly, It Will Be Denied
If you decide to file your insurance claim on your own, you could be jeopardizing your chance of recovery. When the insurance company finds out you aren’t represented by an attorney, they may try to take advantage of you. First, they’ll stop answering your calls and emails. The next thing you know, you get a letter in the mail denying your claim. You call the insurance adjuster handling your claim and ask why it was denied. They hem and haw and then offer you a ridiculously low settlement. Desperate for cash, you accept it.
The next thing that happens is the insurance company asks you to sign a settlement release. This is a document that prevents you from pursuing them for damages in the future. You should never sign one of these without having a personal injury attorney in Athens, Georgia review it. You have no idea what rights you’re signing away. At least your lawyer will warn you not to sign it. They may be able to get a lot more money than what they’re offering. The only way you’ll know is if you go to see an experienced personal injury attorney in Athens, Georgia.
Our Personal Injury Attorneys in Athens, Georgia Will Help Appeal Your Claim
If your insurance claim happens to be denied, you’ll have one chance to file an appeal. It’s harder to win an appeal than it is to get your claim approved in the first place. The same people are making the decision. If you do this yourself, your odds of winning are slim.
However, if you hire an attorney to handle this for you, your odds will improve. When the insurance company realizes you have hired a personal injury attorney in Athens, Georgia, they’ll take you more seriously. Your attorney isn’t going to back down. They aren’t intimidated by the big insurance companies. They’ve dealt with most of them throughout their career. If they aren’t able to get your claim paid on appeal, then they’ll file a lawsuit on your behalf.
If Need Be, Our Personal Injury Attorneys in Athens, Georgia Will File Suit Against the Other Driver
Once you decide to file suit, things will get a lot more complicated. Now, you’ll be filing a legal complaint instead of an insurance claim. You’ll also have to serve the complaint on the right parties. In addition, you’ll have to submit evidence proving that the other driver was at fault. If you make one little mistake, your case could be dismissed.
If you have a lawyer handling this for you, then your odds of winning go way up. Your attorney will try to negotiate a settlement with the defendant. The goal is to get you the money you deserve. You have a much better shot of this happening if you have a legal professional by your side.
Don’t Wait Too Long to Meet with an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney in Athens, Georgia
We understand why some people wait to see an attorney until after their insurance claim has been denied. They don’t see the point in paying a personal injury attorney in Athens, Georgia if they don’t have to. Unfortunately, what they don’t realize is that having an attorney help them file their claim can make a huge difference. Our attorneys know what information needs to be included with an insurance claim. We also have spent years dealing with the insurance companies. We aren’t intimidated by them and will refuse to let you be taken advantage of by the insurance adjuster.
If you’ve realized that you need help filing your auto accident insurance claim, give us a call. We’ll be more than happy to help you get your claim filed in time so you don’t miss the filing deadline. If need be, we can also appeal your claim if the insurance company chooses to deny it. Finally, if this doesn’t work, we’ll have no problem filing suit on your behalf.
All you have to do is call our office and schedule your free, initial consultation. Sit down with someone who has handled cases like yours before. They’ll explain the claims process and let you know what to expect. If you haven’t filed your claim already, we can help you do that as well. Since the initial consultation won’t cost you anything, you have nothing to lose. The defendant will have attorneys working for them and you should too.