Imagine driving on a crowded interstate and slowing down in traffic. Suddenly, your car is hit from behind. You have a serious back injury and are out of work. Medical bills are stacking up, and you’re unsure how to proceed. You learn the driver who hit you has coverage by State Farm, so you must file a claim with that company.
Dealing with a serious auto accident and injuries can be extremely challenging. But handling a difficult insurance company and legal and document requests when you’re hurt is even more overwhelming.
Hiring a car accident attorney to oversee your State Farm injury claim is often better. They’ll ensure that your claim is handled effectively and leads to the most compensation.
Why Is Handling Your Own State Farm Claim Risky?
Auto accident victims might initially try to handle their own claims with State Farm against another driver’s policy. It might seem easier than hiring a lawyer at the start of the process. However, handling your claim can be a terrible decision with disastrous consequences.
Underestimating Your Damages
The most common mistake is undervaluing your claim. You probably do not have experience valuing car accident losses and likely have little idea what your claim is worth. Many believe they are only entitled to payment for their damaged vehicle and current medical bills. After all, this is what State Farm will tell you – and what they want you to believe. You are likely entitled to a lot more, though.
For example, suppose you thought your back injury was minor, so you settled with State Farm without an attorney. The adjuster offers to pay for your car repairs and $5,000 for medical bills and inconvenience. However, a month after you settle with State Farm, you discover tingling in your extremities. You have nerve damage from the accident, but you have already signed the settlement documents. It’s too late to demand more money.
This problem can be easily avoided by retaining a car accident attorney right after the auto accident. An experienced car accident lawyer will ensure that your medical bills, lost income, and physical and mental pain and suffering are fully understood before engaging in settlement talks with State Farm.
State Farm Denies Liability
State Farm will only compensate you for your losses if you prove that their client caused the accident that injured you. Proving fault might sound easy, but you don’t know what the insurance company will require to accept liability.
Suppose you were rear-ended in a crash and injured your back. The rear driver is usually blamed. But State Farm may claim that you stopped for no reason and caused the accident. It might deny responsibility for the accident, but you don’t have an experienced auto accident attorney to argue your side. You can hire an attorney later, but the case may be better if you retain a lawyer from the beginning.
Not Knowing How To Handle The State Farm Adjuster
Fighting with a difficult insurance adjuster after a major crash can be exhausting, especially when you’re hurt. Imagine being in the hospital and confronted with documents and legal requests from State Farm. You aren’t in the best position physically or mentally to deal with an insurance claim.
For its part, State Farm may use your situation in its favor. It may attempt to downplay your injuries. Or, it can claim you caused the accident and pressure you to take a small settlement. You may need cash, but taking a low settlement under pressure from an insurance company is unwise.
You can sidestep this problem by hiring an auto accident attorney to take on State Farm. Worry about healing and following your doctor’s orders. Allow your auto insurance company to tangle with State Farm and deal with any tactics they try to lowball you. Your attorney will deal with all insurance communications so you can heal. They will also inform you of your case’s progress, but you won’t have to do anything else.
You Miss A Critical Deadline
Personal injury claims require plaintiffs to adhere to certain deadlines. For example, every state has a statute of limitations for personal injury claims. California and many others, for instance, have a two-year statute of limitations. You must file your lawsuit within two years of the date of injury, or you forfeit your right to pursue compensation. A car accident lawyer will ensure that your claim with State Farm is filed on time.
How Will A Car Accident Attorney Help With A State Farm Claim?
Retaining a car accident attorney is the best way to ensure proper compensation from a State Farm claim. Your attorney will perform several critical duties as your legal advocate to provide the optimal outcome of your claim.
For example, a car accident attorney will collect accident evidence to prove the State Farm policyholder caused the crash. The claims adjuster will require strong proof that their client violated their duty of care and injured you. This may be more challenging than you believe, even if you are sure they hit and injured you.
Car accident lawyers know the evidence needed to prove negligence. They also know how to interpret and present the evidence to prove to the insurance company that they should compensate you. Significant evidence your attorney may use to prove liability includes traffic surveillance video, eyewitness testimony, medical reports, physical evidence from the scene, and expert witness statements.
Your Auto Accident Attorney Is Your Legal Advocate
Auto accident attorneys dedicate themselves to your case. They will file court and insurance documents on your behalf without making procedural errors that can negatively affect your case. This is critical to a State Farm claim if the insurance company doesn’t make a fair offer.
Obtaining legal advice from the Internet and people you know is no substitute for an experienced auto accident attorney working on your case. Your attorney’s experience and skill with insurance negotiations and court trials are vital to the best outcome of your claim.
Negotiating With State Farm Claims Adjusters
Negotiating with claims adjusters is a significant challenge in a State Farm insurance claim. A large insurance company such as State Farm has adjusters and attorneys who work to pay less on insurance claims. The company will deny your claim if it can. Filing an effective claim with State Farm is difficult, especially for someone who is hurt and unfamiliar with insurance and legal practices.
Your auto accident lawyer will take over all communications with State Farm when you hire them. They know how to negotiate for the most money for injuries and will present the accident evidence to prove fault. They will know approximately what your claim is worth and demand the most for injuries and related losses. Your lawyer will handle challenging issues, such as arguments about shared fault.
You will only have a better case resolution by handling your claim with an auto accident attorney. Most injury victims don’t know what their claim is worth. Nor do they know how to negotiate with a bottom-line-driven insurance company. Don’t try to save money on legal fees because you will most likely have less money in your pocket than with a skilled lawyer.
Determining Auto Accident Compensation
A serious auto accident usually means severe injuries, large medical bills, and lost work time. Filing a claim with State Farm will supposedly compensate you for your losses. However, many injury victims don’t realize the full extent of what they deserve and may settle for far too little.
An auto accident attorney is familiar with auto accident injuries and knows what similar claims in your city have settled for recently. They will also partner with occupational and financial experts and your medical team to understand the full value of your case. Then, they will negotiate with State Farm for the best settlement. If State Farm offers too little, your attorney may recommend suing the defendant in court.
Your Auto Accident Lawyer’s Reputation And Experience
Retaining an experienced attorney with a good reputation is a tremendous asset in a State Farm injury claim. Your lawyer should have a strong reputation and be well-known to State Farm. If so, the adjuster may be more willing to offer a fair settlement quicker. They know that going to court against a seasoned trial lawyer can be a losing proposition, especially if the plaintiff is severely injured.
An attorney with average skills and experience may make decent money by churning through many cases and settling for small amounts. But your injury claim is your one chance to receive the most compensation possible from State Farm. You should not trust any auto accident attorney to handle your case. Always hire an experienced car crash lawyer with an impressive record of settlements and jury verdicts, including experience with State Farm specifically.
One way to find the right auto accident lawyer is to review their recent car accident case results. They might even have the results posted on their website. While past results never guarantee future outcomes, they can indicate an attorney’s dedication to obtaining full compensation for clients with serious injuries.
While you might be concerned about how much an experienced attorney costs, car accident lawyers don’t usually charge out-of-pocket legal fees. Your lawyer will be paid from the settlement or jury award at the end of your case.
A Car Accident Lawyer Often Gets More For Your Losses
Hiring an experienced auto accident attorney usually means receiving more in your State Farm settlement. Legal research shows that auto accident victims with an attorney regularly receive more compensation than those who don’t hire counsel. This higher compensation more than compensates for an attorney’s legal fees.
The results are clear. Auto accident victims who hire an attorney usually receive better results than people who attempt to negotiate their own claims. You can expect that State Farm will try to exploit the situation if you don’t hire an attorney. It knows that you probably need money right away and may leap at a few thousand dollars offer when you are entitled to much more.
Do not fall for these tactics. Take the time to hire a car accident attorney to be your advocate and handle State Farm for you.
Maximizing Your Settlement Efficiently
Your car accident lawyer knows that you are injured, probably can’t work, and need money. They will work quickly to settle your claim with State Farm for the most money. Many claims with State Farm settle in a few weeks or months, but more serious cases can take longer.
An experienced attorney will recommend that you wait until your injuries are fully healed before agreeing to a settlement. It is unwise to settle a serious injury claim before understanding the full damages you have. For example, you may have a back injury that takes six months to heal.
However, you still have the injury effects that make walking long distances difficult. It’s critical to wait until the back injury is completely healed. That way, your attorney knows you need more compensation for future medical care, rehabilitation, and possibly lost income or earning capacity. Settling too soon can leave you with inadequate financial resources.
Speak To A Car Accident Attorney Today
A severe auto accident can render you seriously injured and unemployed in seconds. You may have a devastating injury that prevents you from working, enjoying life, and doing what you enjoy. If another party caused the crash, you may need to file a State Farm injury claim to secure fair compensation.
However, State Farm is in business to turn a profit, and it may attempt to undervalue your injuries or question your accident claim. It might even try to blame you for the accident.
An experienced auto accident attorney can oversee your State Farm injury claim to ensure maximum compensation for your injuries. They also may file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver if the settlement offer is inadequate. Your auto accident lawyer will guide you during every step of the car accident claim or lawsuit process. You can speak to a car accident attorney today about your State Farm car accident claim for free.
