Personal InjuryAdvice From a Thousand Oaks Car Accident Lawyer: Avoid Rushing Into a Hasty and Unfair Settlement
Any seasoned Thousand Oaks car accident attorney will admit that you don't have to retain a car collision lawyer for every car accident. Yet virtually all lawyers will advise those who have been injured in a car crash to a least consult a car accident lawyer before agreeing to a quick insurance settlement.
Car Crashes Happen Much Too Often in Thousand Oaks
Car accidents happen on average about two each day in Thousand Oaks, California. In 2006, the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) reported that 11 people died and 608 were injured in Thousand Oaks car crashes. Three pedestrians were killed and 23 were injured in car collisions. A total of 48 bicyclists and 38 motorcyclists were injured in crashes. DUIs caused five fatalities and 62 injuries. In 2007, 11 car collisions ended in 11 fatalities.
Don't be in Rush to Settle with the Insurance Company
Knowledgeable Thousand Oaks car accident lawyers know that when people are injured in a car accident, they want to settle with their insurance company as fast as possible. This is understandable. Confronted with mounting bills, weeks and often months out of work, they need cash. But as difficult as it may be to wait, it's typically better to fully settle a claim than to accept a fast settlement. The simple reason is that losses and injuries suffered in a car collision may not surface for months, sometimes even years later.
Get a Thorough Medical Diagnosis Before You Sign a Release
Knowing this, insurance adjustors will happily agree to a fast settlement. They know that the sum you receive will be less than the insurance company has set aside for your claim. All the more reason to undergo a complete and thorough medical diagnosis of your injuries before you sign any insurance release forms. A savvy Thousand Oaks car crash lawyer knows that many car accident injuries take time to reveal the full extent of their damage. Once the injury fully manifests itself--sometimes as a permanent disability--the car accident lawyer can build a solid case to ensure you are justly compensated for the full extent of your loss.
Insurance Companies Want to Avoid Long-Term Damage Claims
For example, if you should suffer a back injury in a car accident, the long-term damage and problems you may encounter are typically far more difficult to determine. You could require multiple medical procedures, long-term care and/or expensive prosthetics. So it's wise to wait as long as possible before negotiating a final settlement. Insurance adjustors realize this, so the sooner they settle with you, the lower the compensation for your losses. One begins to see why the advice of an experienced Thousand Oaks car collision lawyer can be so valuable.
The insurance industry's own research reveals that car accident injury victims who retain the services of an lawyer get far greater settlement sums than those who do not. This is true even after legal fees have been paid to the lawyer.
Want to know more about car accident cases and how not to become a victim? Read "The Seven Fatal Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Personal Injury Claim" by California personal injury attorney John Bisnar. The book is free to accident victims--just go to www.BestAttorneyBooks.com to get a copy sent to you, or you can buy one at www.Amazon.com. Be sure to check out other Los Angeles County car accident lawyers who practice with BISNAR | CHASE.
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