You have just been in an accident. Maybe you were at fault, or maybe it was another party. Either way, it’s a stressful situation. You’re not sure what to do. You’re in pain, tense, and wondering what’s next. What should you do? Who can you trust? How much will this cost? These are all common questions that come to mind after an accident.
The insurance company may not give you a complete picture of your rights. You need someone to explain your situation and ensure that you are taken care of. At The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, our Concord Personal Injury lawyers know how stressful it can be to have just been in an accident. Insurance companies are not always fair and can be difficult to deal with. We are here to help take some of the stress off your shoulders and ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Common Personal Injury Cases in Concord, North Carolina
There are many different types of personal injury cases that our firm handles. Some of the most common issues that we see include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bite accidents
Each of these accidents will involve an insurance adjuster that the insurer sends to investigate the claim. Sometimes, the insurance company will accept liability and offer a settlement. However, in many cases, the insurance company will deny liability or try to lowball the victim.
What Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know About Your Case
There are many things that insurance companies don’t want you to know about your case. For example, insurance companies may not tell you:
You Do Not Have to Talk to Insurance Claims Adjusters
After accidents caused by their policyholders, insurance companies will often send an insurance claims adjuster to try and get them to give a recorded statement. Insurance companies can use this statement against you later in your case. You are not required to give a recorded statement, and you should always consult with an attorney before giving one.
You Have the Right to Review All Offers Before Accepting Them
Insurance companies will often try to lowball victims by offering them a quick settlement. They may tell you that the offer is the best they can do or that you will have to go to court if you do not accept it. This is simply not true! You always have the right to review any offer made by an insurance company, and you should never accept an offer without consulting with an attorney first.
You May Be Entitled to More Compensation Than the Insurance Company is Offering
In many cases, insurance adjusters will try to lowball victims by offering them a settlement that is much less than they deserve. This is because insurance companies know that most people are not aware of the full extent of their damages, especially early on. An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to help you calculate all of your damages, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
They May Know Your Answers to Questions Before they Ask Them
In some cases, insurance companies will already have information about your case before they send an adjuster to talk to you. For example, the insurance company may access the police report if you were in a car accident. They may also have surveillance footage of the accident. Adjusters will often use this information to try and trip you up or get you to say something they can use against you later.
They Can Conduct Surveillance on You
Insurance companies will likely never tell you they can request surveillance of your activities. They may try to befriend you on social media or even just look you up if you don’t have the proper privacy settings. They may also try to contact your friends, family, and co-workers to get information about your case. It is important to know that insurance companies may be watching you and what you are doing, both online and out in the world.
Contributory Negligence in Concord Personal Injury Claims
North Carolina is one of the remaining states to follow the contributory negligence doctrine. Under contributory negligence, accident victims cannot recover damages if they are even one percent at fault for the accident.
Contributory negligence often comes up in collisions where one party is turning left. Insurance companies are going to look at several factors, including how many lanes there are, how big the intersection is, which lane the involved parties are in, where on the vehicles the impact occurred and many other factors other than just who had the green light. These types of cases are rarely black and white in the eyes of the law.
If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact an experienced car accident lawyer at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor today.
How The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor Can Help You with Your Concord Personal Injury Case
If you have been injured in an accident, our firm can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys. We will investigate your case, gather evidence, and build a strong claim on your behalf. We will negotiate with the insurance company and fight for you in court if necessary.
