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Should You Try to Negotiate Your Own Personal Injury Settlement?

If you’ve been injured in a car accident you may be wondering if you can save money by working out a settlement with the insurance company on your own.

Everyone is looking for ways to save money these days, and perhaps you think that if you negotiate your own claim you will be able to keep more in  your pocket by avoiding an attorney’s fee.

But in many cases handling your own claim can actually end up costing you money.  Here’s why:

Despite what their commercials may lead you to believe, insurance companies are not in the business of paying claims.  This is true, of course, because the less they pay out in claims the more profit they make.   While the insurance adjuster may seem nice you should remember that she is not on your side!

So, if the insurance company isn’t looking out for your best interest, who is?

Having an attorney on your side can help level the playing field and give you a better chance of getting the compensation you deserve.

According to a study conducted by the Insurance Research Council, injury victims who use lawyers for their personal injury claims receive bigger settlements than victims who do not use a lawyer.

You may be saying to yourself, “yeah, but how much of that money do they actually keep after paying for the lawyer?”  According to the study, injured persons who used lawyers received more money on their claims even taking into account the fees paid to their lawyers.

The bottom line is that an attorney can help get you your best possible recovery because he knows how to deal with the insurance companies.

An experienced personal injury attorney can help maximize your recovery to get you the compensation you deserve.  Call Al Lewis of Lewis, Lewis & Falkner at 205-553-5353 for your free consultation.

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Should I Try to Settle My Car Accident Claim Without a Lawyer?

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may be wondering if you can save money by working out a settlement with the insurance company on your own.

Everyone is looking for ways to save money these days, and perhaps you think that if you negotiate your own claim you will be able to keep more in  your pocket by avoiding an attorney’s fee.  But in many cases handling your own claim can actually end up costing you money.  Here’s why:

Despite what their commercials may lead you to believe, insurance companies are not in the business of paying claims.  This is true, of course, because the less they pay out in claims the more profit they make.   While the insurance adjuster may seem nice you should remember that she is not on your side!

So, if the insurance company isn’t looking out for your best interest, who is?

Having an attorney on your side can help level the playing field and give you a better chance of getting the compensation you deserve.

According to a study conducted by the Insurance Research Council, injury victims who use lawyers for their personal injury claims receive bigger settlements than victims who do not use a lawyer.  You may be saying to yourself, “yeah, but how much of that money do they actually keep after paying for the lawyer?”  According to the study, injured persons who used lawyers received more money on their claims even taking into account fees paid to their lawyers.

The bottom line is that an attorney can help get you your best possible recovery because he knows how to deal with the insurance companies.

An experienced personal injury attorney can help maximize your recovery to get you the compensation you deserve.  Call Al Lewis of Lewis, Lewis & Falkner at 205-553-5353 for your free consultation.

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How Soon After My Car Wreck Should I Call A Lawyer?

I was just in a car accident… when should I call a lawyer?

You have a lot on your mind after your car wreck.  You’re worried about missing work, getting your car repaired, and finding temporary transportation, all while trying to recover physically and treat your injuries.  Because of all these things you may be tempted to put off calling a personal injury attorney.

However, it’s crucial that you consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible after your accident.

Why?

First, you want someone to get started investigating your case as soon as possible.

The longer you wait the more difficult it will be to track down witnesses and the more likely it will be that the witnesses’ memories will fade.  Other pieces of evidence, like accurate pictures of the scene of the crash, are also easier to get closer to the time of the accident.

Second, the law places certain time limits on your ability to file claims.

The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Alabama is two years, meaning that if you’re going to file a lawsuit it typically must be done within two years of the wreck.

Third, the sooner you hire an attorney the sooner you can focus on getting your life back.

When you hire a personal injury attorney you no longer have to deal directly with the insurance company – your lawyer will handle that for you.

Let an experienced lawyer guide you through the personal injury claims process and fight for the compensation you deserve.  Call us today at 205-553-5353 or come visit our office in Tuscaloosa for your free consultation.

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How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?

When you are involved in a car wreck one of the first things you’ll want to know is how much your case is worth.

Every case is different, and there is no way to predict the exact dollar amount of your claim.  An experienced personal injury attorney, however, can look at the factors in your situation to give you an idea of the potential value of your claim.

So, what affects the value of your car accident case?

The answer is many things.

One obvious factor is how badly you are injured.

For example, a permanent or disabling injury is generally going to have a much greater value than minor muscle strain. Did you recover quickly from the accident or were you hospitalized, have to go through rehabilitation or lose time from work?

 Liability is another component.

Was the accident the other driver’s fault? If liability is clear, the insurance company has one less thing to argue about.

One not so obvious factor is venue.

Venue is the place the lawsuit will be filed if the case gets to that point. Juries in some areas of Alabama are more generous to accident victims. Insurance companies know this and will often take venue into account in determining what they are willing to pay on a particular claim.

You don’t want to guess blindly at the value of your case when you’re dealing with an insurance company.

You need an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you determine your actual damages and handle the negotiations for you to get the most out of your claim.

Do you want to know how much your car accident case is worth?  Call our Tuscaloosa office today at 205-553-5353 for a free consultation with our personal injury lawyers.  Let us help you maximize the value of your car accident claim.

Al Lewis, Tuscaloosa personal injury attorney

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How Much Car Insurance Do I Need?

Have you ever wondered how much car insurance coverage you really need?

Alabama law requires that drivers carry a certain amount of auto insurance for their registered vehicles. But is that minimum coverage enough?

No!

Think about it:  Alabama only requires you to have liability coverage of $25,000 per person or $50,000 per accident for bodily injury or death. If a car accident causes serious injuries, though, the medical bills involved can easily be much, much more than that.

If you don’t have good liability coverage and are in a car accident that’s your fault then you can end up paying out of your own pocket for the other driver’s medical bills, property damage, and lost wages.

So, your best bet is to buy as much insurance as you can reasonably afford.

Most experts recommend people should have bodily injury coverage of at least $100,000 per person or $300,000 per accident and property damage coverage limits of $100,000.00. If you can afford more coverage than that you should strongly consider buying it to give your assets even more protection.

The same is true for your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.  Since as many as 1 in 8 drivers are uninsured UM/UIM policies are crucial.  This is particularly true in Alabama:  the Insurance Information Institute ranks our state as #6 on its list of highest percentage of uninsured drivers!

The good news is that UM/UIM policies are relatively cheap.  Many insurers will add UM/UIM coverage to your policy for only a few dollars a month.

Car insurance can be complicated.  Even if you buy the right policies you may still need help after an accident to make sure you receive the benefits of those policies.

You want an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side fighting for the compensation you deserve.

Call us today at 205-553-5353, or come by our office in Tuscaloosa, and let us get started working for you.

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Lewis, Lewis & Falkner, LLC. | Attorneys at Law | 2224 15th Street Tuscaloosa, AL  35401
Phone: +205 553 5353 | Fax: +205 553 5593

DISCLAIMER

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only.  No Attorney-Client relationship is created by use of this website.  Neither your receipt of information from this website nor your use of this website to contact Lewis, Lewis & Falkner  (LLF) or one of its lawyers creates and attorney-client relationship between you and LLF. Alabama State Bar, Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2 (e) requires the following statement: No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.

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