Negligence plays a pivotal role in most car accident cases in Texas. Victims who suffer harm in the process may be eligible for compensation under personal injury laws. All they need is to prepare and file a factual claim against the at-fault party’s insurance companies. In other scenarios, they may pursue compensation from their own too.
Settling a Brownsville car accident case is often a complex affair. Apart from investigating and establishing liability, injured victims have to deal with insurance adjusters. Negotiating a settlement becomes an uphill task that most victims shy away from. At Lone Star Injury Attorneys, we firmly believe that car accident victims deserve fair compensation for the injuries and losses they suffer. We aggressively represent our clients to ensure that they get the justice they deserve.
Mistakes to Avoid When Settling a Car Accident Case
When settling a car accident case, you should keep a few things in mind. Remember, you have a higher burden to prove your claim. Failure to do so effectively may hurt your case. Some of the most common mistakes that injured victims make when settling a car accident case in Brownsville are:
Admitting Fault
Texas is a shared-fault state. This means injured victims may have to share liability with the parties at fault. In other words, it’s possible to collect damages in a car accident case even when you are partially to blame for your injuries. However, your degree of liability must be 49% or below to be eligible for compensation. But no matter how convinced you feel about having contributed to the accident, the last thing you want is to admit fault. Insurance adjusters will be waiting for you to make such errors so they can deny your claim. The best thing to do is to let your attorney apportion fault based on their investigations. Remember, what you say can be used against you.
Accepting Offers Too Soon
It’s not uncommon to see injured persons getting excited when an initial settlement offer comes through from insurance companies. Although this may signify their intent to settle this quickly, you shouldn’t rush to accept their offers or terms. The thing is, insurance adjusters understand the financial predicament you are in. For this reason, they will throw a lesser amount your way so you would accept their terms. Unfortunately, you may not have established the actual value of your losses by this time. That’s why it’s vital that you don’t settle too soon, especially when you haven’t retained an attorney yet.
Signing Documents from Insurance Companies
When settling a Brownsville car wreck case, you must be on the lookout for acts of bad faith from insurance adjusters. They may be kind or show remorse, but never mistake them for your friends. They only serve the interests of insurance companies to maximize profits by paying out minimum compensation. Be wary of the documents you are asked to sign, especially in the absence of a knowledgeable attorney. That signature you append may be to hoodwink you into signing off your rights.
Not Retaining an Attorney
Some car accident victims use shortcuts to pursue compensation by handling their cases alone. They have an unfounded belief that attorneys are expensive to retain and make the compensation process rather difficult. However, the opposite is actually true. Failing to retain a trusted legal team is a sure way of starting your case on the wrong footing. Insurance companies will manipulate you into settling your car accident case on their terms.
What Happens If I’m Not Settled?
Although most car accident cases in Brownsville settle with insurance companies, negotiations may not yield your desired outcome. In such moments, your attorney may take your case to court, where a jury will decide to compensate you or not based on the facts presented before them. When retaining an attorney, it’s always important that you get one who is trial-tested just in case your case proceeds to trial.
Get Help Settling Your Car Accident Case
Settling a Brownsville car accident case is a comprehensive process that requires patience and dedication. Unfortunately, you don’t have the luxury of time when you are already dealing with doctor appointments. You need someone to relieve you of the burden of settling your case to focus on recovery. Our attorneys are ready to help you get the most out of your case. Don’t hesitate to contact our offices today to get help with your claim or have your questions answered.
Call or text (832) 346-9585 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
