If you’ve been involved in a car accident that was someone else’s fault, and their insurance company offers you the policy limit, then you may assume you don’t need a personal injury attorney. The truth is that you just might. Read on to learn more and then contact Law Offices of Michael A. Kahn at (310) 209-1600.
It’s always wise to consult with an attorney before settling
The plain truth is that you should never take the insurance adjuster’s word about what the policy limit is. When you work with a personal injury attorney like Law Offices of Michael A. Kahn, we will take a series of actions to ensure you’re getting what you deserve and are entitled to.
We’ll demand a copy of the declaration page
First and foremost, we’ll request a copy of the insurance policy’s declaration page that was in effect on the date the accident occurred. This page will have the policy limit. This amount should match the amount that the insurance adjuster is offering.
We’ll get written statements from the driver
We’ll also talk to the driver who was responsible for the accident and get a written statement protected under penalty of perjury that states they weren’t working at the time of the accident and that they don’t have additional insurance that might apply to the accident. If they were working, then there may be additional funds to uncover on your behalf.
We will consider hiring an investigator
We will talk with you about the possibility of hiring an investigator to complete an asset check on the at-fault driver. This check may in fact prove that the driver has property and assets that exceed the limits on their policy. If that’s the case, then we may recommend that you don’t accept the offer. Instead, we may only accept the limit if the driver also pays some of their own funds for the car accident settlement.
We will assure there aren’t any other parties at fault
In some cases, there may be other parties at fault. For example, if the accident was partially caused by a pothole, then the city may be partially responsible. We need to investigate this issue before you sign the release because within the release itself, it generally says you’re releasing everyone – not just the driver whose insurance is paying out.
The bottom line: It’s always wise to call a personal injury attorney
Even if you think that the amount being offered on the policy limit is fair, it’s always smart to contact Law Offices of Michael A. Kahn. We offer a free consultation and can take a look at the evidence, your medical bills, the extent of your injuries, and other issues. We’ll then be able to give you an informed opinion on your particular case and, if necessary, we will fight tirelessly to get you what you deserve. Call us today at (310) 209-1600 for your free case evaluation.
