Should I Accept the Settlement Offer Made by the Insurance Company Right Away?

While every situation is different, as a general rule, you should never accept a settlement immediately after an accident because you don't truly know the extent of your injuries. It is not uncommon for pain to take hours or even days to manifest after an accident. Someone injured in an auto accident should at least take the time to determine what is going on with their body before taking action to resolve their claim. Signing a release within hours or days of an accident only benefits of the other driver's insurance company. You lose nothing by waiting.

The real crux of the issue is whether every case should be extended or does every case warrant physical therapy and the answer here is no. Sometimes an auto accident victim will be fortunate enough to only experiences minor pain after an accident. Other times, an individual may not want to go to physical therapy or know that they cannot make time to be available for it. In this scenario a quick settlement is ideal and beneficial. While the insurance companies will always prefer that an attorney not be involved, it is advisable that a claim only be settled with a full appreciation of the injuries involved. Once a release signed, it can very rarely, if ever, be retracted.

Certain accidents will have more value based in part on where they occur. The more diverse urban centers close to the District of Columbia, Baltimore City, and in Prince George's County have greater value based on their more pro-plaintiff jury pool. In situations where someone is severely injured, the next most significant factor in the recovery will be the amount of insurance policy limits. An unfortunate reality is that someone can lose their life in an auto accident and their family might only receive the Maryland minimum policy limits of $30,000. While that is a worst-case scenario it does happen. Again, that is why it is so important to purchase the greatest amount of uninsured/ underinsured motorist coverage you can afford in order to ensure that you and your family are adequately protected.

HOW LONG AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT DO I HAVE TO FILE A PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM IN MARYLAND?

The deadline for filing a lawsuit refers to the statute of limitations. Currently, the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit for injuries received due to negligence in Maryland is three years.

IF IT IS CLEAR THAT THE OTHER DRIVER IS AT FAULT, DO I STILL NEED TO HIRE A MARYLAND PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY FOR MY CAR ACCIDENT CASE?

Not all claims require an attorney. Some cases do not have enough value to warrant an attorney's involvement. But that doesn't mean a claim should be abandoned. In these situations, most people, I believe, are competent enough to negotiate a settlement by themselves or even take their case to trial if need be. In fact, it still holds true that the most litigants in small claims court represent themselves. That being said, a determination of whether an attorney should be hired should not be based on whether you believe that the case is simple because you believe fault is obvious.

An experienced personal injury attorney can bring value in a number of ways. They have knowledge of medical conditions and injuries, as well as an in-depth understanding of the law. They also have the ability to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a particular case. The primary purpose of the other driver's insurance company is to maximize their profit and minimize their risk. When they are dealing with an attorney they are aware that they are dealing with a professional who has the skillset to take cases to trial if the negotiations fail. A decision to hire an attorney should not be made on a rushed basis and should be made prior to communicating with the other insurance company. Before you decide to handle a case by yourself it is always a good idea to have a professional evaluate your claim first. Call us for a consultation so we can evaluate your case together.

For more information on Settlement Offer Made By Insurance Company, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (443) 499-2919 today.