Handling a small injury case yourself isn’t as difficult as it appears, but there are a few factors that you might have to consider. These include how clearly the at-fault party is established, how severe your injury is, and most importantly, how the insurance company responds. Though you can make a claim without a lawyer, you might consider contacting a personal injury lawyer in Salt Lake City for free to understand how much staying on your own costs you.
When You Can Represent Yourself
There are specific scenarios where you are well within your rights to handle this on your own. For instance, if there was no physical injury caused by the accident, the treatments were brief, and you have fully healed, then liability is clear, and you are dealing with a low amount, then going straight to the insurance company is ok. A straightforward example is if this were a collision that was just property damage. Everything outside of these sticking points is more risk than most people realize.
Where DIY Claims Start to Fall Apart
The majority of claims that you consider to be “small” claims often aren’t. A small neck injury from a rear-end collision can develop into chronic issues, which can result in a much larger claim than what you anticipated. Insurance companies deal in negotiations, and the goal for all adjusters is to pay out as little as possible. People often accept offers that are 30-60% less than the actual value because they have no idea what the claim is actually worth.
A personal injury attorney from Salt Lake City has negotiation skills, experience with insurance adjusters, and litigation is always on the table. Sample cases with this firm show an average recovery of $610,000, which is no surprise, as most personal injury lawyers in Utah take cases only on a contingency basis. This means there is no cost to the client unless the firm recovers money for them, which averages to about one-third of the settlement. So, people end up thinking they can’t afford to hire a personal injury lawyer from Salt Lake City when, in fact, the opposite is usually true.
Things You May Not Know
Things may seem relatively simple, but there are definitely some surprises. Some of them are:
- Recorded Statements – Claim adjusters will conduct interviews using leading questions to obtain answers that will result in a lower amount for the claimant. It is the right of a claimant not to conduct an interview with the claim adjuster.
- Permanent Release of Claims – A signed release means the claim cannot be made again, even if your injury gets worse in the future.
- The Utah Statute of Limitations – In Utah, Code 78B-2-307, you have four years to file a personal injury claim from the date of the incident. You will be barred from recovery if you miss this time frame.
- Settling Prior to Completing Treatment – Once you reach maximum medical improvement, the cost of treatment can be determined.
Whenever any of those situations occur, you should consult a Salt Lake City personal injury attorney before you make any decisions in order to protect your rights and your options.
Know What You’re Giving Up Before You Make a Decision
For claims where only property was damaged, it is usually acceptable to handle the claim yourself. However, for claims involving injury, disputed fault, or ongoing pain, it is best to retain an attorney. Most Salt Lake City personal injury attorneys offer free consultations, and it is worth your time to see an attorney for 30 minutes to learn your claim’s possible value.
