Experiencing an accident can leave you feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about the future. The aftermath often includes mounting medical bills, lost wages, and the challenges of recovery. While insurance firms may appear eager to assist, remember that their primary goal is to protect their own interests by minimizing payouts. This is where consulting a lawyer after an accident becomes indispensable.
Let’s explore why insurance providers don’t want you to hire an attorney, how hiring an attorney is important, and how legal representation can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. If you have been seriously hurt in an accident and are facing an insurance provider that doesn’t want you to get legal representation, call our Ohio personal injury lawyers at Cooper Elliott for a free consultation.
Understanding Why Insurers Want You to Go It Alone
Insurance companies use various tactics to deter accident victims from seeking legal help. Their strategies often include:
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Low Settlement Offers: Proposing quick, lowball payouts that undervalue your claim.
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Creating Urgency: Suggesting that involving an attorney will delay the settlement process or complicate matters.
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Misleading Information: Providing vague or incorrect details about your rights or the claims process.
These tactics aim to discourage you from fully understanding your rights and the true value of your claim. Studies show that individuals with legal representation often receive significantly higher settlements than those handling claims alone.
For a free legal consultation, call 614-481-6000
The Role of Adjusters and Bad Faith Practices
Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize claim payouts, and some of their actions may even border on bad faith practices. Common adjuster tactics include:
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Pressuring Early Settlements: Encouraging you to accept an offer before completing medical treatment, leaving you undercompensated.
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Minimizing Your Injuries: Downplaying the extent of your injuries or the long-term impact on your life.
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Using Legal Jargon: Confusing you with complex terms to make you hesitant about challenging their offers.
These practices exploit the lack of legal knowledge most individuals have, resulting in settlements far below what victims are entitled to. If you feel overwhelmed by insurer negotiations, contact us at Cooper Elliott to protect your rights.
How Legal Representation Can Make a Difference
Hiring a personal injury attorney significantly improves your chances of receiving fair compensation. The key benefits of having legal representation include:
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Expert Knowledge: Attorneys understand Ohio-specific laws, insurer tactics, and the claims process.
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Accurate Claim Valuation: They assess damages comprehensively, including future medical costs, lost wages, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
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Negotiation Advantage: With legal backing, insurers are less likely to lowball or delay settlements.
A lawyer ensures that every detail of your case is considered, maximizing your compensation.
Ohio’s Unique Legal Landscape
Ohio’s modified comparative negligence rule allows you to recover damages if you’re 50% or less at fault. However, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. We discuss more about this rule in our blog regarding compensation when not wearing a seatbelt. Additionally, Ohio has a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury cases, emphasizing the importance of timely action.
An experienced personal injury attorney ensures your case complies with Ohio’s specific laws, including filing deadlines and non-economic damage caps. They can also guide you through complex legal waters, giving you the best chance of a favorable outcome.
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Cooper Elliott Can Help You Deal With Insurance Companies
Handling the aftermath of an accident is challenging, and insurance companies often discourage legal representation to protect their bottom line. Understanding more about why insurance providers don’t want you to hire an attorney starts with hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer. This levels the playing field, ensuring you receive fair compensation for your damages. At Cooper Elliott, we offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe no fees unless we win your case.
Don’t let insurer tactics deter you from seeking justice. If you have questions or need help, contact us at Cooper Elliott to discuss your case and explore how we can support your journey toward justice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Bad Faith Insurance Claim?
A bad faith insurance claim arises when an insurance company fails to honor its obligations in a fair and reasonable manner. This can include unreasonably denying claims, delaying investigations, misrepresenting policy terms, or offering settlements far below the claim’s value. With legal assistance, policyholders can hold insurers accountable for unfair practices and potentially recover damages beyond the original claim amount.
How Can I Prove Bad Faith by Insurers?
Proving bad faith by insurers involves demonstrating that your own insurance company unreasonably denied, delayed, or underpaid a valid claim. An attorney experienced in bad faith cases such as those at Cooper Elliott can help collect evidence of the insurer’s actions, such as ignoring relevant information, failing to conduct a proper investigation, or misrepresenting policy terms, to build a strong case.
Call or text 614-481-6000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form