The aftermath of an auto accident is a stress-inducing process most people luckily rarely experience. If you are involved in an accident, you're probably not prepared to handle it yourself in a way that protects your interests, especially if injuries or death are involved. The best way to protect yourself is to retain a personal injury lawyer with expertise dealing with car accidents and insurance companies. After seeking any necessary medical attention, your top priority should be retaining legal counsel. A skilled lawyer is your investment to make sure you receive just compensation from the insurance companies involved in the claim.
After your accident, you will file a claim with your insurance, or with the other driver's if they were found at fault, which will be handled by a claims adjuster. It's important to remember that the adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you. The adjuster's job is to ensure that the insurance company is on the hook for as little money as possible, or even to reject liability for the claim altogether. It can be a shock to find out that your insurance company is interested in paying out as little as possible, since you've paid premiums for them to cover you in just this circumstance.
The insurance company may try to tell you that you do not need to retain an attorney after an accident claim, but you should not rely on them to have your interests in mind. In almost every case, people with legal representation through the claims process end up with more money than those who do not. Insurance companies will try to avoid responsibility through technicalities like paperwork errors or documents submitted after a policy's stated time limits, or even an assumption of facts that do not reflect the reality of the accident. Insurers may also attempt to delay settlements in order to frustrate claimants into accepting a low offer, especially if medical bills are beginning to pile up.
Under the terms of your insurance policy, you have a duty to cooperate in any investigation. This means you are obligated to submit to an examination under oath if requested, submit proof of loss, and sign any authorizations required by the company. This can be a confusing process, with liability in the thousands or even millions of dollars at stake, and should not be undertaken without a skilled personal injury lawyer to be sure you are not signing away your rights.
Insurance companies have a tremendous advantage of expertise and manpower over the average person when contesting a claim. Nobody should face that without representation.
The best way to make sure that you are not shortchanged by your insurance company, or that of the other driver's insurance, is to retain an Ohio law firm with expertise in this area. The Fremont personal injury attorneys at Mayle, Ray & Mayle, LLC have extensive experience dealing with insurance companies and making sure that their clients receive the coverage they paid for.
About Mayle, Ray & Mayle, LLC
Mayle, Ray & Mayle LLC is a Freemont, Ohio law firm with a broad range of expertise. The team consists of attorneys Ronald Mayle, Jeremiah Ray and Andrew Mayle, all of whom bring unique experience and specialties to the forefront, establishing a well-rounded law firm that can meet the needs of any client. With offices in Fremont and Bellevue, Mayle, Ray & Mayle serves clients in need throughout Ohio and also serves as co-counsel and local counsel for other law firms across the country. Contact their expert lawyers at 419.334.8377 or learn more about who they are and how they can help at MayleRayMayle.com.
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