Can a Lawyer Help?
The answer is generally yes. If you were involved in an Oregon auto accident, it is probably a good idea to talk with an injury lawyer at least long enough for a free consultation.
Dealing with insurance companies after a car crash
According to 2009 Oregon Department of Transportation (“ODOT”) motor vehicle traffic crash data, there are about 19,000 non-fatal car accidents in Oregon each year. Injuries are usually fairly common across these auto collisions: head injury, neck and spine injury, back injury. The statistics are much the same across the country. That’s a huge number of car crash cases, so most insurance adjusters learn enough about the kind of injuries that people suffer in auto accidents to know that sometimes injuries don’t become apparent until some time after a crash. Insurers try to settle as quickly as possible while medical bills are low or non-existent, before the full extent of injuries is known.
Having an accident attorney represent you in any case involving personal injury caused by a motor vehicle collision can add a great deal of value. Resolving cases for fair compensation with insurance adjusters takes negotiation skills, as well as legal and medical knowledge, and an understanding of a case’s likely value based on other similar cases. Given insurance company attitudes toward car accident victims, it also takes a commitment to bringing cases to trial.
Insurance company boxing gloves
Claims that you’re in “good hands” and commercials with funny characters or dignified spokespeople that suggest a helpful attitude toward the injured might make you think that insurance companies have your best interests in mind. Don’t make that mistake. Aiming to reduce or avoid payments and increase profits, adjusters may deny the claim, delay the payment, or do anything to defend against a lawsuit. Insurance companies know that they can make more money by simply paying out less. A senior executive at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the group representing those who are supposed to oversee the industry, said, “The bottom line is that insurance companies make money when they don’t pay claims.” An injured person has little chance of being treated fairly unless he or she has a personal injury attorney protecting his or her rights and interests.
Half a settlement is no settlement
Recovering a fair value in any settlement is important. Healthcare providers, insurers, employers, or federal and state government agencies may seek reimbursement from any compensation received, leaving less money in the injury victim’s pocket. If the injured person neglects to insist that these costs be included in any settlement, he or she may end up owing money without enough settlement funds to pay it. An attorney must resolve the claims of those seeking reimbursement from any recovery against the at-fault party.
An Oregon car accident lawyer prepared to take your case to trial is your best approach to increasing the value received in a settlement or verdict. Our goal as an injury attorney law office is also to make things easier for you before your case ever enters the civil justice system. Our services include handling of police reports, Oregon DMV reports, and medical records, as well as claim form submission to your insurance company.
Contact us for a no-cost, no-obligation car accident lawyer consultation
We provide a free legal consultation to discuss your injuries and help protect your legal rights. If we take your case, we will pursue a fair settlement or verdict for you aggressively. Please call us toll free at (800) 714-3204 or in Portland at (503) 975-8298 or use our injury lawyer contact form to tell us about your car accident online.
