The Insurance Company Is Paying for My Car — But What About My Injury's?
This is probably one of the biggest misunderstandings I hear from people after car accidents.
I'll ask someone what's happening with their claim and they'll tell me:
“The insurance company is already handling everything.”
Then I ask:
“Are they handling your car… or your injuries too?”
A lot of people honestly don't know there's a difference.
Your Car Is One Part of the Accident. You Are Another.
The damage to your vehicle is one issue.
Your injuries and how those injuries have affected your life can be another.
Depending on what happened, an injury claim can potentially involve things like medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and other damages.
This is why I tell people not to automatically assume that because the insurance company is repairing their vehicle, everything related to the accident has been handled.
It hasn't necessarily.
“But the Insurance Company Offered Me Money.”
This is another conversation I have all the time.
People think an insurance company's first offer is simply the amount their claim is worth. That's not necessarily how it works.
Insurance claims can involve negotiation, and there are many factors that can affect the value of an injury claim. This is also where I become very careful about what I tell someone because I'm not an attorney, but I make sure to connect you to the best attorney for your specific case.
I cannot tell you what your case is worth. I can't negotiate your claim for you. And I won't promise you that you're going to receive a certain amount of money.
What I can tell you is that if you're injured and you're being asked to settle an injury claim you don't fully understand, it's worth speaking with a qualified personal injury attorney before making that decision.
Why Would Having an Attorney Matter?
Insurance companies deal with claims every single day. Most accident victims don't.
When you have an attorney representing you, you have someone who understands the legal process communicating and negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf.
That doesn't guarantee a particular settlement or outcome. But it means you aren't sitting across from an insurance company trying to figure everything out alone.
And personally, that's one of the biggest reasons I encourage injured people to at least understand their options before making decisions.
Your Job Should Be Getting Better
If you're receiving treatment because you were injured, your focus should be your recovery.
Go to your recommended appointments.
Follow your medical providers' instructions.
Keep your paperwork.
Communicate with your attorney if you have one.
Let the attorney handle the legal side of the claim.
You already have enough going on.
This Is Why I Started Accident Advocate Network
I've spoken with so many people who weren't necessarily making bad decisions.
They simply didn't know what they didn't know.
Nobody handed them instructions after the accident. That's why Accident Advocate Network exists.
I help accident victims understand the general process, know what questions they should be asking, stay organized and connect with independent attorneys when they need legal guidance. Sometimes the first thing someone needs isn't a lawyer.
Sometimes they just need someone to say:
“Okay. Tell me what happened.”
And we can start from there.
Accident Advocate Network is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, negotiate insurance claims, determine case value or guarantee compensation. We provide general accident education and support. Legal services are provided independently by licensed attorneys.
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