We’ve covered this topic before, but it continues to be one of the top questions we get at the Law Offices of Dean Petrulakis. So we thought this would be a good area to revisit for today’s blog post!
After your accident, you’ve likely taken steps to protect yourself, filed all required reports, and more. However, you might be wondering if the incident was serious enough to warrant filing a personal injury claim. Before you decide to move forward with this, here are a few things to consider.
Take What the Insurance Companies Say With a Grain of Salt
For many, insurance companies are the main point of contact for handling and working through car accidents. After all, they’re supposed to fight on your behalf, the policy holder!
Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Remember, insurance companies have one goal above all: to turn a profit. By downplaying your costs and minimizing payouts to policy holders, this helps insurance companies ensure they’re turning a tidy profit. In other words, their primary interest often runs counter to your own.
Insurance companies love low-ball offers because it lets them settle claims and close cases while saving some money for themselves.
Assessing Your Total Damages
This is why it’s so important for you to calculate costs on your own. This includes all financial and non-financial damages that have resulted from the accident and consists of:
- Medical bill
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of wages
- Current and future financial struggles
- Punitive damages
- Emotional stress, and more
Consult with a Personal Injury Attorney As Soon As Possible
If you’ve worked through the math and find yourself short-changed, it might be time to consult with a personal injury attorney. Even if you’re not sure, you should always talk to an attorney as soon as possible.
Waiting until the last minute will only make gathering facts and building a case more challenging. The quicker you connect with a qualified legal professional, the better your chances are of receiving the compensation that you are owed.
We offer free initial consultations at the Law Offices of Dean Petrulakis! Give us a call at (209) 528-0404 to book your consultation with a distinguished personal injury attorney in CA today.
