Whiplash Compensation
Consult with a St. Louis whiplash attorney before speaking with an insurance adjuster.
When you are the victim of a car accident in Missouri, there are many different painful injuries you can be suffering from. One of the most common is whiplash, a painful condition that affects the mobility of the neck.
Whiplash injuries can occur in all types of car accidents, including front end collision and side impact collision. However, the most common type of crash that causes whiplash is a rear end collision, even at speeds as low as 15 miles per hour.
While mild cases of whiplash may remedy in less than two months, acute cases can take years or even a lifetime to recover from. With so many variables, such as speed and the size of the cars involved, there is no telling what you might be facing in the future with a whiplash injury.
Do You Need to Hire a St. Louis Car Accident Attorney?
Missouri drivers have two options when injured in a car accident that was the fault of another driver. They could try and deal directly with the insurance claims adjuster themselves, or they could hire an attorney to file a claim on their behalf. While these are both options, speaking with an attorney clearly has more benefits.
Dealing With the Insurance Company
Since liability is obvious in most rear-end collisions, the victims sometimes believe that there is no need for an attorney. What they don’t realize is that a St. Louis car accident attorney does much more than just establish fault.
If insurance adjusters are calling you and offering settlements it is often because they know that fault is obvious and they are attempting to mitigate the financial obligation of their company by getting you to agree to a settlement. Due to the fact that in many whiplash cases there is very little damage done to the vehicle, you may be tempted to think that this is your best option. It generally is not.
Without the help of an attorney, the insurance company is very likely going to offer you far less than what your case is worth. They will use the small amount of damage to your car to intimidate you into thinking that you would not be able to win a case against them. The best thing you can do for your protection is to call an attorney and direct all inquiries from the insurance company to them.
Why Hire a St. Louis Car Accident Attorney?
A St. Louis car accident attorney has a good idea of how much your case is worth. They also know that you are entitled to much more than just the cost of your medical care. They are going to factor in any damage to your vehicle, your lost wages from work, pain and suffering, and the projected cost of future medical care. There are a lot of factors that the insurance adjuster is going to “conveniently” leave out when offering you a quick settlement.
How Much Will it Cost?
If the cost of a St. Louis car accident attorney is your concern, consider this: they are generally not going to be paid unless your case is won. Car accident attorneys work on a contingency, where you agree to share with them a certain percentage of the settlement amount. Even then, you are typically going to receive compensation that is much higher than the insurance company offered.
One last thing to consider: A St. Louis car accident attorney can also negotiate with your creditors to help with lowering the amounts owed to them. If they are expecting payments, an attorney may be able to get them a portion of the settlement at a reduced charge. This saves you money in the long run.
Before talking with any insurance adjusters after a car accident, you should always consult with a lawyer first. There is never any harm in a free consultation and you will quickly see how their main priority is helping you in receiving the highest possible amount in compensation.
