How to Deal with Insurance Companies After an Accident in Dallas

If you are injured because of another party’s negligence or wrongdoing in Texas, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages. Often, when you receive financial compensation, it is paid by an insurance company. Dealing with insurance companies after an accident in Dallas can be complicated and you could easily hurt your chances of receiving full compensation without even knowing it. You need to understand how the insurance process works, what your rights are, and potential pitfalls to watch out for.

An experienced Dallas personal injury attorney will be able to handle the communication and negotiations with the insurance companies for you after an accident. At Bush & Bush Law Group, we have seen all the tactics used by insurance companies and we know how to recover the maximum compensation for our clients.

Should I Speak to Insurance Companies?

There are usually at least two insurance companies involved when you have an accident – your own and the defendant’s. You should notify your insurance company right away when you have been involved in an accident whether you are at fault or not. However, you want to be careful what you say even to your own insurance company. Report the basic facts of the accident and then refer any other questions they may have to your Dallas personal injury attorney.

You may choose to file a claim with the defendant’s insurance company. If you do so, they have 15 days to reply and accept or deny your claim. They may also request in writing additional time to consider your claim. Once you have filed a claim, the insurance company’s adjuster may contact you. You should not speak with them or communicate in any way with them until you have consulted an attorney. Any statement you give can be used as evidence against you to deny or minimize your compensation.

The insurance company adjuster’s job is to deny your claim if possible and if not, to settle your claim for as little as they can. They are good at getting information from you to make their job easier. You should seek the help of a Dallas personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your accident. If the insurance company calls you, do not answer their questions, Refer them to your attorney instead.

Settlement Offers

When you have been injured in an accident, you may be dealing with mounting medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses. If you are not able to work, you may also be panicked about paying your regular monthly bills and providing for your family. It is natural to want to settle your claim as quickly as possible to relieve some of these burdens. However, you should be careful about accepting an insurance company’s initial settlement offer.

Many times injury victims have settled for what they believed was fair compensation only to realize later the future medical costs and the true extent of their damages. Once you settle your claim, you can not go back later to seek compensation for additional expenses you incur because of your injuries. You need to have an experienced Dallas personal injury attorney evaluate your case and adequately value your claim.

At Bush & Bush Law Group, we are experienced in calculating all economic and non-economic damages you have sustained, including the future impact of your damages. Let us review your case and advise you on what a fair settlement may be. Don’t settle for less than you are entitled to receive.

When is an Insurance Company Acting in Bad Faith?

Insurance companies may be guilty of acting in bad faith if they deliberately act in a way that violates their contractual obligation to a policyholder. Texas law strictly prohibits insurance companies from acting in deceptive, unfair, and prohibited practices. Some ways that an insurance company may act in bad faith include:

• Refusing to make a fair settlement offer
• Denying a claim without a legitimate reason
• Refusing to timely handle claims or repeatedly missing deadlines
• Refusing to negotiate with another attorney or injury victim in good faith

An experienced Dallas accident attorney will be able to spot bad-faith behavior quickly and will know how to hold an insurance company accountable.

How Is My Claim Valued?

Each case is different but your attorney will consider all damages when estimating the value of your claim. You need to be compensated for all expenses incurred because of your accident. Do not only consider your current medical expenses, lost wages, and damaged vehicle. You may be able to recover for your current and future economic damages such as:

• Current medical expenses
• Future medical expenses including follow-up appointments
• Physical and occupational therapies
• Future surgeries
• Lost income during your recovery process
• Future lost income if you have a permanent disability from the accident

You may also be able to recover for non-economic damages such as:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental or emotional pain and anguish
• Loss of consortium
• Disfigurement
• Physical impairment
• Loss of companionship and society
• Inconvenience
• Loss of enjoyment of life

An insurance company will try to value your damages at the lowest possible amount. Do not accept their valuation. Retain the services of a Dallas personal injury attorney with a proven track record for getting maximum compensation for their clients.

How A Lawyer Can Help Deal with Insurance Companies After An Accident in Dallas

Handling accident claims is what insurance companies do every day. They are experienced and know all the successful tactics to settle claims for as little as possible. Insurance companies also often hire top-tier attorneys to help them pay as little compensation as they can for an accident victim’s damages. Having an experienced, successful Dallas personal injury attorney by your side helps level the playing field.

At Bush & Bush Law Group we are also very experienced and we know how to defend against the insurance company’s tactics. Our firm has a proven record of successfully dealing with insurance companies after an accident in Dallas and recovering full compensation for our clients. This is what we do every day and we do it well. We will handle all communications and negotiations with the insurance company for you and will fight to settle your claim for maximum compensation. If a fair settlement is not reached, we will take your case to trial and demand justice and every dollar you deserve.

Contact us at (469) 977-7777 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation today. Let us help you deal with the insurance companies after an accident in Dallas.