06 Nov 5 Reasons Not to Represent Yourself in a Car Accident Claim

You may find the idea of representing yourself in a car accident claim to be appealing. Many consider representing themselves because it may help them save money. Many also believe that they do not need an attorney if their insurance is on their side. However, many consequences come with trying to represent yourself in a personal injury car accident claim. These consequences can ultimately result in great reduction of your settlement. Take a look at the top 5 reasons why representing yourself in a car accident claim is a bad idea.

Legal Documents Can be Overwhelming

One thing people are not prepared for with a car accident claim is the number of legal documents they get. If you do not hire an attorney, you may soon find yourself lost in complex legal paperwork. Minimal legal experience makes you vulnerable to signing something you do not fully understand. This could have long-term consequences. However, an attorney walks you through the difficult car accident claim process. Attorneys who specialize only in personal injury claims have a great deal of experience. An attorney will explain each step of the car accident case process to you and help you make informed decisions.

You May Miss a Deadline

Often, people do not realize the strict guidelines and deadlines they must follow when filing a personal injury car accident claim. If you are not aware of these guidelines, you may miss an important deadline. Missing deadlines can put your whole claim in jeopardy. An attorney will handle you claim properly. An attorney will also make sure no deadlines are missed.

You Won’t Have Anyone on Your Side

If you do not hire an attorney, you will have no one by your side to look out for your best interests. One of the most common reasons people choose not to hire an attorney for their car accident claim is because they believe their insurance company is taking care of them. The fact is your insurance company likely does not have your best interests in mind. At the end of the day, your insurance company will be looking out for their bottom line. They may try to pressure you to take an insufficient settlement. They want to save money and close your claim quickly. Hiring an attorney will ensure that you have someone looking out for your interests who will work to get you the proper settlement.

You May Get a Low-ball Car Accident Claim Settlement

As we previously mentioned, if you try to represent yourself in a car accident claim, you will have no one looking out for your best interests. This can leave you vulnerable to being taken advantage of. Unless you have experience with similar cases, you likely will not know the true value of your claim. In fact, insurance companies are often banking on this and will purposefully offer a low-ball settlement to end the claim quickly and easily. An attorney will assess your situation and help you to determine exactly what your case is worth. After a determination is made, an attorney will apply their methods to increase your personal injury claim compensation. Car accident claims focus on your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Proving Fault with a Car Accident Claim Can Be Difficult

Even if it seems apparent that the other driver is at fault, it will still be your responsibility to prove the fault is on them. Proving fault on your own can be difficult. An attorney will know how to investigate the accident and collect evidence to build a great claim that proves who is to blame.

Without an attorney, you will likely encounter complications that are avoidable. You will also put yourself through additional stress, but you need to focus on your recovery. To ensure proper compensation for your injuries, consider contacting an attorney for your car accident claim process.