Getting paid after a car accident isn’t always as simple as filing a claim and waiting for a check to arrive. Insurance companies have their own tactics to delay or reduce what they owe, and the other driver’s insurance isn’t going to hand you a fair payout without a fight. Even your insurer may try to minimize what you receive.
When you’ve suffered an injury, you’re out of work, and dealing with medical bills, you need to know how to get the money you deserve. Working with a car accident lawyer puts you in a position to fight for full compensation. You shouldn’t accept less than what you’re owed, and there are specific steps you need to take to get every dollar that’s rightfully yours.
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Table of Contents
Understanding How Insurance Companies Operate
Insurance companies look for any excuse to pay you less than what your claim is worth. If they can shift blame onto you, even a little, they’ll do it. If they can argue that your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim, they’ll go down that road, too.
Adjusters are trained to look for inconsistencies in your statements, delays in medical treatment, or anything that can weaken your claim. They don’t care about your financial struggles or the pain you’re in. Their goal is to settle your case for as little as possible.
The Lowball Settlement Tactic
A lowball settlement offer is almost guaranteed. Insurance companies count on injured people feeling pressured to accept whatever they can get quickly, especially if they’re missing work and struggling to pay bills. They may even claim the offer is “fair” or the best they can do. The truth is, if they’re offering you money upfront, your claim is likely worth far more. A car accident attorney knows how to push back against these tactics and demand a proper settlement.
Getting Compensation for All Your Losses
You’re not just entitled to money for medical bills and car repairs. You deserve compensation for every loss you’ve suffered because of the crash. That includes lost income, future lost earnings if your injuries prevent you from returning to work, and the pain and suffering you’ve endured. Insurance companies won’t automatically include all of these in their offer, so you need an attorney to fight for the full amount you’re owed.
The Hidden Costs of a Car Accident
Your injuries might require long-term treatment, rehabilitation, or even permanent care. If you accept a quick settlement, you can be left paying out of pocket for medical expenses. Some injuries take weeks or months to manifest fully, and if your condition worsens after settling, you can’t go back and ask for more money. Insurance companies know this, so they push for fast, lowball settlements before the true extent of your injuries is clear.
Calculating the True Value of Your Claim
Before considering an offer, you need to calculate your claim’s worth accurately. This means factoring in future medical expenses, lost earning potential, and the emotional toll of your injuries.
A car accident lawyer works with medical professionals and financial analysts to ensure you’re seeking every dollar you’ll need – not just today but years into the future. They understand insurers’ tactics to minimize payouts and know how to counter them with solid evidence and expert opinions.
Dealing with Delays and Denials
Insurance companies use delays to wear you down. They might claim they’re still reviewing your case, need additional documentation, or require more time to process the claim. These aren’t genuine concerns – they’re tactics designed to frustrate you into accepting a lower settlement.
The longer they drag things out, the more desperate you might become, especially if medical bills are piling up and you’re unable to work. Some companies take it even further by outright denying claims without valid reasons, hoping you’ll give up and move on.
How an Attorney Pushes Back
An attorney forces insurance companies to take your claim seriously. They won’t let adjusters hide behind excuses or endless delays. When insurers try to stall, a lawyer demands answers and holds them accountable. They know the deadlines companies must follow and use legal pressure to keep things moving. A lawsuit becomes an option if an insurer refuses to negotiate in good faith.
The Power of Legal Action
Once a legal case is filed, insurance companies know they can’t stall forever. Court deadlines force them to respond, and the possibility of a judge or jury ruling against them often motivates them to settle. Hiring a lawyer ensures your case progresses so you get paid as soon as possible. Without legal representation, insurers have little incentive to stop dragging their feet. With an attorney, they know you’re serious – and that changes everything.
How Medical Bills Get Paid While You Wait for Your Settlement
Medical bills start piling up immediately after an accident, and if you’re waiting on a settlement, you may wonder how those bills will get paid. If you have health insurance, it can cover a portion of your medical expenses, but you may still be responsible for co-pays and deductibles. These out-of-pocket costs can increase quickly, especially if you need ongoing treatment.
Medical Liens as an Option
Some medical providers will treat you under a medical lien, meaning they agree to be paid from your settlement once your case is resolved. A lien can give you access to treatment without upfront costs, but it also means your providers expect full payment once your case settles. A car accident attorney can negotiate these liens to ensure you’re not overpaying.
Using Your Own Auto Insurance
Your auto insurance may also cover medical expenses, depending on your policy. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or MedPay can help cover immediate medical costs, regardless of who caused the accident. These benefits can pay for hospital visits, physical therapy, and even lost income in some cases. However, insurers may try to limit what they pay, which is why having an attorney review your policy is important.
Finding All Available Coverage
A car accident attorney examines all available coverage sources to ensure you’re not stuck with out-of-pocket expenses while waiting for your settlement. They identify every option, whether it’s health insurance, auto insurance, or a medical lien, to keep you from falling into financial hardship while your case moves forward.
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The Importance of Acting Fast
Insurance companies don’t want you to know that time limits apply to your claim. Every state has a statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit after a car accident. If you wait too long, you can lose your right to compensation entirely. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to gather evidence, locate witnesses, and build a strong case. Critical evidence like traffic camera footage or accident scene details can disappear, making it more difficult to prove what happened.
Delays can also hurt your claim in other ways. If you put off seeking medical treatment, insurance companies argue that your injuries weren’t serious or weren’t caused by the accident. They’ll use gaps in treatment as evidence to minimize your claim or deny it altogether. The longer you wait, the easier it becomes for insurers to twist the facts in their favor.
Avoiding Missed Deadlines
If you miss deadlines for submitting paperwork, insurers use that as an excuse to deny your claim. They count on injured people being overwhelmed, assuming you’ll make mistakes that give them a reason to pay less. A car accident lawyer makes sure everything is handled on time and that no deadlines are missed. They ensure that your claim is filed properly, medical records are documented, and negotiations happen before time runs out.
Suing for the Money You Deserve
If an insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, filing a lawsuit may be your best option. Most cases settle before they ever reach a courtroom, but filing a lawsuit shows the insurance company you’re serious about getting paid. Litigation can pressure the insurer to make a reasonable offer rather than risk a judge or jury awarding you even more money.
When a lawsuit is filed, the discovery process begins. Both sides exchange evidence, take depositions, and gather testimony from medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists, and financial professionals. Your case goes to trial if the insurance company still won’t settle. A jury then decides how much you should be paid. An attorney who knows how to build a compelling case can make all the difference in securing the compensation you need.
Why a Lawyer Should Handle Your Claim
Insurance companies have teams of attorneys working to protect their interests. You’re at a serious disadvantage if you try to take them on alone. Adjusters will pressure you to settle quickly, downplay the value of your claim, and use your own words against you. They may even record phone conversations in hopes of twisting your statements. Every interaction you have with them allows them to minimize or deny your claim.
Insurance Companies Count on Your Lack of Experience
Insurance companies know you don’t deal with injury claims every day – they do. They use this to their advantage by making the process as confusing as possible. They might say you don’t need a lawyer, but that’s because they know having one makes it harder for them to get away with their usual tactics. They’ll flood you with paperwork, ask for unnecessary documentation, and delay responses to frustrate you into accepting a lowball offer.
A Car Accident Attorney Levels the Playing Field
A car accident attorney knows how insurers operate and doesn’t fall for their tricks. They negotiate with insurance companies, gather evidence to support your claim and ensure you’re not accepting less than you deserve. They work with medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists, and financial analysts to build a strong case proving your damages’ full extent.
Let a Lawyer Handle the Stress
Handling a claim means dealing with endless paperwork, legal technicalities, and aggressive insurance tactics. A car accident lawyer files every document correctly and professionally. They handle every conversation with the insurance company including negotiations so you can have peace of mind to focus on your health and get your life back on track.
The Mistakes That Can Cost You Money
Accepting the first settlement offer is one of the biggest mistakes people make after a car accident. Insurance companies know you’re in a tough spot, and they take advantage of that by offering far less than what your case is worth. Once you accept, you can’t go back and ask for more money later.
Waiting to See a Doctor
Failing to get medical treatment right away can also hurt your claim. Insurance companies look for gaps in treatment as a reason to argue that your injuries weren’t serious. Getting medical attention right away creates a record that links your injuries to the accident, making it harder for the insurance company to dispute your claim.
Speaking With an Insurer Without an Attorney
Talking to the insurance company without legal representation can also cost you. Adjusters are trained to ask questions in a way that gets you to say something they can use against you. Even saying “I’m feeling okay” can be twisted to suggest that you aren’t as injured as you claim. Having an attorney handle all communication with the insurance company prevents these traps.
Take Control of Your Financial Recovery
Getting paid after a car accident isn’t just about filing a claim and waiting. It requires knowing your rights, understanding how insurance companies operate, and taking the right steps to demand full compensation.
A car accident lawyer ensures you get every dollar you’re owed and won’t leave money on the table. . They push back against lowball offers, fight unfair denials, and take your case to court if necessary.
Your financial recovery depends on taking action. Every decision you make after a crash affects the outcome of your claim. The right legal strategy puts you in the strongest position to get paid what you deserve. Don’t let the insurance company dictate the outcome of your case. Take control by contacting a personal injury lawyer for a free consultation. Your attorney will demand the compensation that’s rightfully yours.
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Kevin L. Edwards
Founder
Attorney Kevin Edwards is a co-founder of DFW Injury lawyers. During his law school tenure, Mr. Edwards worked for a prominent local personal injury attorney, where he gained valuable pre-litigation, litigation, courtroom, and trial experience in lawsuits involving car wrecks, commercial trucking wrecks, medical malpractice, premises liability and catastrophic injury. Following his graduation from law school, Mr. Edwards joined a high-volume civil litigation/insurance defense firm in Dallas, Texas, where he defended corporations, insurance companies, employers, trucking companies, and numerous businesses and individuals throughout the State of Texas. After approximately five years on the defense side of the docket, Mr. Edwards had seen enough of the corporate and insurance company greed. In 2008, Mr. Edwards moved across the courtroom aisle to help plaintiffs whom he had seen from experience suffer real, and often times, debilitating injuries and were deserving of compensation. Over the last 15 years, Mr. Edwards has dedicated his practice to helping those who have been injured or harmed by the negligence, malfeasance, and/or recklessness of others. He has represented thousands of victims in personal injury matters, defective products cases, and mass tort litigations against medical device and pharmaceutical companies.
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