Most of us who are hurt in car accidents are not personal injury attorneys, so there are common mistakes people make that affect their claims. This is why it is recommended to always have the case reviewed by a Portland auto accident attorney.
First, many people in auto accidents think that their personal insurance will cover everything but this is rarely true. The big issue is many people only carry minimal coverage, so they are not covered if they have medical bills that are more than $10,000 or $20,000. Also, your insurance company will not pay you for pain and suffering, which can be substantial in a serious car accident. If you are hurt in a car accident, you should talk to a Portland auto accident attorney who will help you file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company.
Second, auto accident victims often do not hire a Portland auto accident attorney when they should.
They may think that hiring an attorney is too expensive and who wants to bother with a legal hassle anyway? The problem is that most injured clients do not know what their case is worth. If you work with the insurance company on your own, it is likely you will not get nearly as much money as you would with an attorney.
Your attorney works on a contingency basis, so you do not ever pay upfront legal fees. They just take their fee and legal expenses out of your settlement, so there is no cost to you for hiring an attorney. But the lawyer will almost always get you more money than you could on your own.
Third, some people decide not to file a lawsuit because they don’t want to be greedy and aren’t the type to file a lawsuit. However, if you are seriously injured, in pain, can’t work, and can’t exercise or play with your kids, you deserve compensation for your losses. It is not greedy to demand compensation for your inability to live a normal life because the other person was negligent. Besides, unless you talk about the case with people and post it on social media, which you shouldn’t, few people will know about the matter anyway.
Fourth, suppose you were partly at fault for the accident. Many people do not file a lawsuit because they think they cannot get any money, but this is often untrue. You can still receive compensation for your case if you were less than 50% responsible for the accident. Your attorney will review the case and determine if your degree of fault precludes you from receiving compensation.
Fifth, some injured parties, in an attempt to get more money, will exaggerate their injuries. This is never a good idea because the insurance company has seen it all. The insurance company will investigate your case and may have you examined by their doctor. If you exaggerate your injuries, the other party will find out. This will damage your credibility, and if it goes to trial, it is likely the jury will not look kindly on someone exaggerating their injuries. Be honest about your injuries and never lie because those untruths will always be uncovered eventually.
Last, it is very important that you be honest with your Portland auto accident attorney about everything that happened in the accident. Don’t exaggerate your injuries and don’t try to cover up that you were partly at fault. It is always best to tell your lawyer everything about the case, positive and negative. Your attorney should know about any weaknesses in the case so they can prepare for negotiations with the insurance company and the defence attorneys.
