DISTURBING TREND RELATED TO INJURY SETTLEMENTS

While reading a blog page for Texas Trial Lawyers, I recently learned about a disturbing trend regarding settlements for personal injury claims.  With millions of Americans feeling the economic strain from the global recession that is occurring, many insurance companies are taking advantage by making quick settlement offers to injured victims that, in many instances, are extremely small, and don’t fully compensate victims for their losses.  People who are hurting financially are more tempted to accept these small settlement offers, without hiring an attorney.  Many insurance companies realize this reality and quickly put nominal offers of settlement on the table, and, unfortunately, many of these small offers are being accepted.

The retention of an experienced personal injury lawyer does not increase the value of every personal injury claim.  However, some suggest that non-represented claimants typically settle claims for one-third of what they would have received had they been represented by an experienced personal injury lawyer.  In an extreme example I read an article where an injured claimant was offered less than $4,000.00 to settle an injury claim, and, after retaining an attorney, the claim was settled for approximately $200,000.00.   Obviously lawyers can’t make this type of difference in all cases, however, experienced personal injury lawyers understand how to value cases, and understand the types of damages that are available to claimants.

In many cases, an insurance company will not take a claimant’s claims seriously without an experienced personal injury attorney representing the claimant.  Without such representation, many insurance companies see very little exposure, if any.  The problem is that without an experienced personal injury lawyer, the claimant’s claims may not be adequately preserved and/or prosecuted, and insurance companies understand this problem.

Therefore, if you or a loved one has been injured and an insurance company adjuster is attempting to offer a quick settlement, take time to contact an experienced personal injury attorney in your area.  It is important that the insurance company adjuster understands that you, and your attorney, take your claim seriously.  Retaining an attorney, in most instances, will likely increase the value of a claim.  If it doesn’t appear that an attorney will add value to a claim,  most personal injury attorneys, like me, will advise potential new clients that they would be better off settling the case without an attorney.

If you or a loved one have been injured, Contact Schorr Law Firm for a free consultation by calling toll free at 1-866-456-0100 or Visit Schorr Law’s Website

Posted in Automobile Accident, Insurance, Personal Injury
Tags: Injury Settlement