If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, there are several common concerns including outstanding medical bills, inability to work, and persistent symptoms.  Often, insurance adjusters will call, seek information about an injured person’s condition, and even offer to send a check in exchange for a signature on a release.

Be wary.  It may not be best to speak with an insurance company (even your own) until you speak with a personal injury attorney.  Here are 10 reasons to consider:

1. The objective of an insurance company is to be profitable.  They do not care about you, your injuries, your family, or your bills.  They desire to resolve your claim for the least amount of money possible.

2. Your own insurance company is NOT necessarily on your side either.  They don’t want to pay out more than they have if yours is an underinsured or uninsured motorist claim.

3. Insurance companies may deny, delay, and defend claims.

4. Insurance companies use software that calculates legal claim value in a manner that may not account for all of the significant losses one incurs after an accident.

5. Insurance companies will record your conversations and may use your words against you later.

6. Insurance companies will argue that your medical treatment was excessive and not necessary in an attempt to avoid paying your medical bills.

7. The insurance company will not share information with you that might increase the value of your case.

8. The insurance company will not want you to wait to settle until you have incurred all expenses or have an understanding of what future expenses are probable.

9. Insurance companies may make quick, below value offers to settle to those who have not had prior experience with a claim or an opportunity to evaluate the claim.

10. Insurance companies are not your friends, even if they pretend to be friendly.

In addition to protecting your interests against an insurance company, a personal injury attorney knows how to gather and protect evidence, find and engage expert witnesses, and deal the legal, medical, and insurance systems.

There is often no charge, and there is no obligation to hire, when you consult a personal injury lawyer about potential representation.  Many personal injury attorneys are paid from the proceeds of your claim and fees are contingent upon those proceeds and not the hourly rate typically charged.

If you have unfortunately been in a car accident, consider these reasons to speak with a personal injury attorney.