Were you seriously injured in a car, commercial truck, motorcycle, or pedestrian accident? If so, you might be concerned about being able to afford your medical bills. If your injuries forced you to miss quite a bit of work, you might also be worried about how you will continue to provide for yourself and your loved ones. Recovering from an auto accident is one of the most stressful situations a family can endure.
If you’re in the process of attempting to settle an insurance claim regarding the accident, there’s a very real possibility that the settlement offers you receive will be too low and will not cover the costs of the care you need. This is an unfortunate reality that many accident victims face. Luckily, you do have options.
Why are Insurance Settlement Offers Often Low?
When you sign up for auto insurance, the agency you sign up with will tell you that you’ll be in good hands if an accident should occur—no matter the nature of the accident or how serious it is. They may even tell you that you’ll have no issues receiving the financial assistance you need to recover from any injuries. Unfortunately, this generally never happens.
Why is that the case? It all boils down to money. In a car accident between two drivers, the insurance agencies of both drivers have a say. The insurance adjuster of the other driver will do everything in their power to get their client more money. This means that the settlement claims they send will likely be unfair to you and your injuries. If the adjuster is feeling particularly greedy, the claim you receive may not even be enough to pay for your basic medical needs—let alone any time spent off work.
If this happens, your own insurance agency may not be able to increase your received settlement amount. You will be asked to settle unless you wish to hire an attorney and fight the claim. It’s an extremely frustrating situation to be in—especially when you’re still trying to recover from your injuries.
Taking Action into Your Own Hands
As mentioned above, if you find yourself in this unfortunate predicament, you do have legal options. If you feel the accident was fully or partially caused by driver negligence, carelessness, or recklessness, you have a legal right to hire a Lexington, KY car accident lawyer who can fight on your behalf and demand a fair settlement. An attorney can ensure that you receive the full settlement amount you deserve—including financial help for any time you had to take off from work. These costs are often referred to as compensatory damages.
If you choose to go the route of filing a personal injury lawsuit against the guilty party, you may additionally be rewarded punitive damages on top of the expected compensatory damages. This extra amount can be used to help your family recover from any emotional hardships endured, for example.
Todd W. Burris is a personal injury lawyer who’s experienced in helping clients obtain full compensation and will do everything he can to ensure you and your loved ones are able to regain the lives you had before the accident. Contact our Lexington office to learn more and receive a 100% free consultation.
