For over 25 years the attorneys at Stewart Law Offices have been representing personal injury victims throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. During our years, we have seen clients make simple mistakes that cost them a lot of money, all because they weren’t properly informed.
With that said, here are three things your personal injury lawyer wishes you knew…
#1. Insurance adjusters are not your friend.
When you get into an accident, you can expect a phone call from the at-fault party’s insurance company almost immediately. The person on the other end of the phone will seem warm, friendly, and caring, and may even ask about your injuries. Hang up the phone. While it seems like the insurance adjuster has your best interest at heart, it is his job to minimize your payout. Anything you say can and will be recorded and used against you in court if necessary.
Even if your injuries are seemingly light, it would benefit you to delay this conversation until you’ve at least spoken with an attorney and have a clear understanding of your accident claim and potential recovery. In accidents resulting in severe injuries, it’s essential that you speak to a lawyer who can assist you in ensuring you don’t inadvertently damage your case and cost yourself large amounts of money by saying something that could trivialize what actually happened. A good attorney can alleviate the need for you to interact with the insurance adjuster at all and will act as your advocate by going to bat for you with the insurance company.
#2. Social media can make or break your case.
Nothing on the internet can ever truly be deleted, so it is important to be mindful of what you post on social media. The insurance company is looking for whatever they can find to prove your injury is not as serious as you claim, which includes monitoring your social media profiles. Don’t give them ammo by posting anything about how well your recovery is going, or sharing pictures of your snowboarding trip from last weekend.
Even if the items you’re sharing on social media seem largely unrelated, it’s best to shy away from posting updates while you’re in the process of making an injury claim. If you have any doubts about whether something is potentially damaging, talk to your attorney before sharing it publicly on social media.
#3. You can lose (a lot of) money by forgoing an attorney.
Many people choose to represent themselves because they think they can’t afford to pay an attorney, or simply don’t want to. What they don’t know is research shows that personal injury victims who are represented by a lawyer consistently settle for more money than their self-represented counterparts – even after accounting for lawyer fees. In fact, many personal injury lawyers operate on a contingency fee agreement, meaning your fees are paid from your settlement, not out of your own pocket.
Whether or not you ultimately choose to hire an attorney is completely up to you. However, consultations are always free and there is no downside to discussing your potential case with an experienced personal injury lawyer prior to moving forward with any sort of settlement. Because the attorneys at Stewart Law Offices don’t get paid unless you win, it’s also in their best interest to be 100% honest with you about the realities of your case. They will always have your best interest in mind and if it’s not going to be beneficial for you to work with them they’ll be the first to tell you.
If you are looking for legal representation for your personal injury case, look no further than the attorneys at Stewart Law Offices. We have more than 25 years of experience representing personal injury victims throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. Contact us online to get started with a free consultation, or call 866-783-9278.
