Were you involved in an accident that resulted in being injured, such as a car crash? If so, you'll likely be recovering from injuries and need to figure out how to receive the compensation you deserve. Here are two things you need to know after being involved in an accident that left you injured.
The Insurance Adjuster Isn't Your Friend
When an insurance adjuster reaches out to you, they will likely be friendly and make it seem as if they want to wrap up your injury claim so that you can receive compensation. However, be aware that the insurance adjuster is not your friend in an injury claim. Their top priority is to save the insurance company as much money as possible, and will try to do it by any means possible. All of your words will be scrutinized in every conversation, and the adjuster will find ways to lower the offer that they make you.
This is why it is best to leave these conversations to an injury lawyer rather than take them yourself. By having someone speak on your behalf, it keeps you a step away from saying anything that can be used against you. Your lawyer will do the talking and negotiating to fight on your behalf, not against you.
You May Need To Use Your Own Insurance
While it would be ideal for the responsible party to have a good insurance policy that covers all your damages, that may not be the case. The other driver may have limited coverage or no coverage at all, making it hard to receive more than the policy limits from a personal injury lawsuit. This leaves you with two options for how to make up the difference.
You have the option to go after the individual responsible for the remainder of your bills that you are owed, but it is unlikely that you will see that money. Wage garnishment can take a long time to receive what you are owed, and even that is not a guarantee. The other option is to use your underinsured motorist coverage, which is designed for this exact situation. This is a policy that you pay for with its own limits, and will cover the money that a responsible drive is unable to pay due to a lack of insurance. It can also help you in a situation where you were in a hit and run, and unable to track down the other driver.
For further questions you may have, reach out to a professional like Kenneth P Hicks.