Ever wonder what the worst thing you can do after a car accident is?
Try handling your no-fault auto accident claim alone.
The numbers don’t lie.
Insurance companies don’t have your best interest in mind. They work quickly to settle your claim paying as little as possible. Without legal assistance, most accident victims settle for far less than they deserve.
Here are the facts:
Victims who hired a lawyer received 3.5x more money than those without one, according to a study by the Insurance Research Council. That’s not millions here and there — that’s victims actually making it vs victims losing their homes.
Still think you can handle your auto accident claim alone?
Navigating deadlines, complicated insurance laws, and insurer adjusters all by your lonesome self is no easy task. Unfortunately, that’s what going it alone with your no-fault auto accident claim in Michigan really means. That’s why working with car accident lawyers in Detroit can make all the difference.
What You’ll Learn:
- What Is a No-Fault Auto Accident Claim?
- The No-Fault Trap Most Victims Fall For
- What Insurance Companies Won’t Tell You
- How Much Money You Really Leave on the Table
- 3 Things You Miss Out On Without Legal Help
- How a Personal Injury Lawyer Levels the Playing Field
What Is a No-Fault Auto Accident Claim?
Michigan is a no-fault insurance state. When you get in a car accident your insurance company pays medical bills and lost wages REGARDLESS of who was at fault.
Seems simple right?
Wait until you file a claim…
No-fault does NOT mean no dispute. Insurance companies fight claims and deny benefits all the time. They cut people off early and challenge whether injuries are serious enough. If you don’t know your rights, you won’t even know it’s happening.
Handling your no-fault auto accident claim is much more than filing paperwork with your insurance company. It’s a legal battle where insurance companies hold all the cards.
The No-Fault Trap Most Victims Fall For
Here’s the worst mistake accident victims make:
They think because Michigan is a no-fault insurance state their insurer will handle everything. Make a phone call. Fill out some paperwork. Then wait on the insurer to do their job.
Yeah. Insurers have a different job.
They try to pay out as little as possible.
That means using your word against you. Scrutinizing past medical records. Trying to find the reason your injury isn’t as bad as you say. Everything they can to minimize your no-fault auto accident claim. And if you aren’t working with a lawyer? Guess who’s defence is on?
What Insurance Companies Won’t Tell You
Insurance adjusters are some of the best negotiators in the business. They know insurance laws inside and out. Their job is to save the insurance company money — not you.
Here’s a fun fact most victims aren’t told…
Submitting a release too early can cut off your right to any future no-fault benefits whatsoever. Think about that. All of your medical bills. Lost income. Recovery services. Gone. Taken away because you signed a piece of paper too soon.
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis — meaning they only get paid if you get compensated. So what do you have to lose by speaking to a lawyer?
Many accident victims also leave money on the table by not even realizing how much they were entitled to in the first place. Pain and suffering damages. Future medical expenses. Future lost income. None of these are going to show up without you asking for them. An experienced lawyer will know exactly what your claim is worth.
How Much Money Do You Really Leave on the Table?
Let’s crunch some numbers.
Facts show that accident victims with legal representation receive an average of $77,600 in compensation. Without a lawyer? Only $17,600. That is a $60,000 difference even after paying a lawyer their cut.
The financial consequences don’t stop there either. Here are some other things accident victims tend to struggle with when not using a lawyer:
- Miss deadlines which can end your claim entirely
- Underestimate how expensive their injuries can really be
- Take an initial low-ball settlement that doesn’t cover future medical expenses
- Sign paperwork that limits their rights to benefits down the road
The legal system is complicated. Insurance policies are worse. Dealing with both on your own after being injured in a serious accident is asking to leave money on the table.
3 Things You Miss Out On Without Legal Help
Here are some of the biggest things victims lose out on when not working with a lawyer…
Thing #1: Getting Low-Balled
Insurance companies love low-ball accident victims. Expect that initial offer to be far lower than you’re entitled to. Victims who held firm with their insurance company received settlements that averaged $30,700 more than those who accepted early. That’s significant money to leave on the table.
Thing #2: Know When You Qualify for More Compensation
Michigan allows accident victims to make claims for “pain and suffering.” However, you need to surpass a certain legal threshold to qualify. There are many tricks and loopholes insurers use to deny this compensation. Let a lawyer determine if you qualify and fight for what you deserve.
Thing #3: Accepting Recorded Statements
Insurance companies will ask you to give a recorded statement sometime after your claim is submitted. Basically, they record everything you say and use it to deny or devalue your claim. Do NOT give a recorded statement without having a lawyer review your case.
How the Right Attorney Makes All the Difference
Of course, hiring a lawyer helps with all of the above.
But here are a few other ways the right attorney can make your case.
They safeguard your rights from day one. Communicate with insurers on your behalf. Gather proof. Fight denied claims. Ensure you don’t sign anything that may jeopardize future benefits.
Let’s put it into perspective…
91% of accident victims that hired an attorney received some form of payout. On the other hand, only 51% of accident victims that didn’t hire a lawyer received a payout. Having legal assistance more than doubles your chance at compensation.
The average payout for auto liability bodily injury claims is now $27,373 and rising each year. If filing a claim without legal assistance, chances are far less than that will be received.
The Takeaway
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking your auto accident claim is nothing more than paperwork.
It’s a legal process. With rules that insurance companies know backwards and forwards. Meanwhile, you’ve probably never heard of half the terms they use. You don’t have to spend every waking moment researching your claim either. A qualified lawyer has.
Filing a no-fault auto accident claim alone will cost you money, protections, and your sanity. Speaking to a lawyer costs nothing and can drastically change the outcome of your case.
