3 Insurance Mistakes People Make After a Car Crash

 Posted on June 24, 2021 in Car Accidents

Serious auto accident cases involve a variety of difficult problems. In addition to the damage done to your car, you may be badly injured. You will almost certainly have to deal with a complex insurance claim.

Nobody wants to handle an insurance claim, but having an experienced attorney on your side can help you navigate your car insurance accident paperwork. Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when they are dealing with a car accident insurance claim and how to avoid them:

Not Researching the True Value of Your Car

If your car has been totaled, your insurance company will have to pay you the amount of money your car is worth. However, insurance companies have an interest in paying you as little as possible – meaning they may try to lowball you on the value of your car. You are more likely to get a check for the true value of your car if you do your own research to find out what your car is worth. Then, if your insurance company offers you less than your research indicates you should receive, you can counter their offer with your own.

Trying to Negotiate a Settlement On Your Own

You may assume that, since you were the victim of the accident, and you have access to your own health information and information about your vehicle, you are the most qualified person to negotiate a settlement with an insurance company. You may have done your research and gotten an idea of the settlement amount that is common for an accident such as yours.

Regardless of how familiar you are with the circumstances of your accident, most people only deal with an accident or two during their lifetimes. Insurance company personnel, on the other hand, are experts in handling auto accident settlements – and they know what people are willing to settle for, even if they actually could get more.

Personal injury is a complex area of law in Illinois, and attorneys and insurance companies understand it much better than the average car accident victim. Having a lawyer who has experience with settling car accident lawsuits is the best way to maximize your settlement amount while avoiding costly mistakes.

Waiting to Hire a Lawyer

The sooner you can get a lawyer involved in a car crash case, the more likely you are to have a positive outcome. Even though it is tempting to want to get back into a routine and forget about the unpleasantries related to your accident, it is easy to lose track of time. Not only do you lose the opportunity to collect important facts and information immediately after the crash, but Illinois has a strict two-year statute of limitations – meaning you do not have much time to file a claim against the person responsible. In a worst-case scenario, you may be seriously injured and unable to collect compensation for your injuries if you do not address the legal issues correctly.

Connect with a Rockford, Illinois Car Accident Attorney

If you have been in a car accident, you do not have to navigate the complex aftermath alone. The experienced attorneys of Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Jambois, can help you understand your options and determine the best approach to take. Contact a Winnebago County personal injury lawyer today at 815-215-7561 to get a free and confidential consultation.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=2017&ChapterID=56&SeqStart=99900000&SeqEnd=103300000