As technology has advances, so have the resources available to individuals—the result of which has reduced reliance on others, and allowed for the increased capability for self-help. While there are many situations in which one can effectively resolve matters on their own, having a ‘do-it-yourself’ mindset is rarely a practical approach to take when it comes to personal injury. Before attempting to take matters into your own hands following an accident or injury, the Chicago attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. urge you to consider the following…
First, the vast majority of personal injury matters involve claims against insurance companies. In some cases it is the victim’s own insurance provider, and in others it is a policy held by another person. When it comes to your own coverage, policyholders often believe that their own provider will handle their claim in a manner that best serves their interests—after all, you are the customer, and are paying a premium for insurance coverage you selected under a particular policy, right? Well, yes and no. You are indeed a paying customer, but this does not mean that you should assume that the insurance company is on your side. Beyond the duty to act in good faith, insurers owe little more to claimants when it comes to dealing with claims—even those submitted by their own policyholders. In sum, regardless of whose policy a claim is being submitted to, it is crucial to keep in mind that insurance companies are in the business of maximizing profits, and minimizing payouts.
Second, whether you want to believe it or not, insurance companies can and do treat claimants that are self-represented differently than those represented by counsel. When an insurance carrier knows that a claimant is not represented by an attorney, they tend to take advantage of this by coercing victims into accepting settlement offers which, often time, are grossly inadequate in terms of providing compensation for injuries, damages, or loss. On the other hand however, when an insurance company learns that a claimant has secured representation, they tend to take such claims more seriously, in part, because they know that your attorney has a pre-determined figure in mind as to what amount of compensation they believe their client deserves.
Third, obtaining a case evaluation from a personal injury attorney will cost you nothing but your time—and you are under no obligation to utilize that attorney’s services simply because you met with them to discuss your case. Taking advantage of a free personal injury consultation following an accident or injury is worthwhile. In the very least you will have gained better overall understanding of your case in terms of the validity of your claim, the persons or entities to direct liability towards, as well as the applicable law.
To schedule a cost-free, obligation-free consult, contact the Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., at 773-516-4100—we are here to help.