No person involved in a car accident wakes up in the morning and thinks “today is the day I’m going to get in a car accident.” As such, you may not have a plan in place on what you’ll do minutes after a car accident occurs.
However, even though you may not know when you will play a center role in an unfolding car accident drama, you can still have a few plans in place just in case. Primarily who should be contacted in case of an accident. For example, family, babysitters, employers, etc. Also, who can step in to help if you are ever hurt in a wreck.
One often overlooked source of help is contacting a local personal injury attorney. This is mostly because most people don’t think that after an accident their insurance will treat them poorly.
“People do not think that dealing with an insurance company after an accident – especially their own – could turn into a difficult task,” said Kevin Rowe, the founder of the award winning Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys.
The following are a few mistakes Lerner and Rowe’s legal team feels can be avoided after an accident with some advance planning and preparation.
Signing Insurance Waivers Too Soon for a Quick Payout
An unfortunate truth is that some insurance adjusters have been known to go to the scene of an accident and try to get distracted clients to agree to a quick payout. The insurance adjusters do this by offering them a check or gift card in exchange for their signature on a waiver.
When a person signs off on one of these waivers and accepts the check or gift card, they essentially promise not to ask for more money later.
“This is really bad form on the part of an insurance adjuster,” Rowe said. “For most people they may not realize how badly they are injured after an accident due to all the adrenaline rushing through their system. It’s not until the next day when they wake up extremely stiff and sore that they discover they may actually need extensive medical care.”
For example, whiplash is a common injury that can creep up on a person one day after an accident. According to the Mayo Clinic, it can take up to 24 hours for symptoms to show.
In this instance the best plan of action to avoid being taken advantage of is to wait at least 48 hours before agreeing to any deal from an insurance company.
“Waiting 48 hours will not guarantee a higher initial offer from an insurance company, but it will give you more time to determine the severity of your injuries,” Rowe said.
Agreeing to Accept Less for Medical Bills That Cost More
Say you were hurt in a wreck and rushed to an emergency room for treatment. After discharge you are then given a medical bill with several zeros. You accept the bill with the thought that your insurance will help offset the cost. But did you know these emergency room bills are generally non-negotiable? Or, that insurance companies are known to dig in and refuse to offer significant compensation to help cover these expenses.
“We’ve heard of too many instances where a person submitted their emergency room bill to their insurance company for payment. Then they were told they shouldn’t have paid what they did. That the insurance company believes the bill should have been much less. In addition, they will only pay the amount they think the bill should have been,” Rowe said. “It’s not reasonable to suggest that a person should have negotiated a better rate for a bill that is non-negotiable. But if insurance companies were fair, we would be out of business.”
If this short change payment scenario sounds familiar to you, you may want to reach out and contact an attorney. With their assistance you have a better chance getting help paying medical bills.
Settling for Less – Not All Attorneys Are Created Equal
Just because an injury attorney promotes themselves as being the best, doesn’t mean they are the best fit for you. Taking a few extra minutes to consult with an attorney can help. Doing so helps you get a better idea if they have the experience (in and out of court). As well as if they have the passion to fight for the best possible results.
Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys has helped tens of thousands of personal injury clients. The firm has also settled over $100 million just in the past 12 months. Under Kevin Rowe’s leadership and guidance, each member of his firm knows that they are to give each client 100% and show them compassion and empathy during their time of need.
“When a person is unexpectedly injured because of the actions of another, the last thing they need is to be treated like a number. Or, just another file on a desk that needs to be processed as quickly as possible. That isn’t fair, nor is it respectful. Especially, since they are already suffering and in pain,” Rowe said. “That is why I constantly share with my legal team the importance of taking time to carefully review all aspects of a claim and being present and compassionate to anyone that contacts us.”
Compassionate Local Lawyers
Lerner and Rowe’s desire to show compassion and help others in their time of need is not just limited to legal cases. Their offices in Arizona, New Mexico, Illinois, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California, and Tennessee go one step further in helping local community members. They do this by giving a percentage of each settlement to charitable organizations and causes.
Lerner and Rowe do this primarily through the non-profit foundation they formed, Lerner and Rowe Gives Back. The foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for notable organizations. Such as the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale, Special Olympics, #LovePup, and Habitat for Humanity. All this in addition to supplying tens of thousands to smaller underserved charities throughout Arizona.
Plus, each spring the foundation hosts its biggest fundraiser of the year; The Lerner & Rowe Gives Back Annual Charity Golf Classic.
“So many people look outside the United States to offer assistance to needy causes. This is great. However, there are just as many disadvantaged people in need within our own cities. I feel that it is our responsibility to not only give back and help our neighbors, but to come together as a community. Doing so increases our efforts for an even greater impact.”
The information on this blog is for general information purposes only. Nothing herein should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute an attorney-client relationship.