Despite the fact that I earn my living as a NY and Pennsylvania accident lawyer, you may be shocked to learn that I often recommend to people who meet with me that it is NOT necessary for every person to be represented by an attorney in every auto accident case.
That’s right…not everyone needs a lawyer in every accident case.
However, BEFORE you can make that decision, it is CRITICAL that you be properly informed so you can make the right decision and so you can properly protect your rights. Quite frankly, that’s why I am writing this post and that’s why I wrote a book (Learn the Five Deadly Mistakes that Can Kill Your Accident Case!) to help folks make this decision BEFORE talking to the other insurance company.
Please keep reading to get some basic advice and to learn how you can get a free copy of my book (if you live in NY or PA).
Insurance companies love to prey on folks that don’t know their rights and how to protect them.
Quite frankly, in smaller cases where there is only minor damage to your vehicle and in which you have suffered only minor injuries (for example, bumps and bruises that quickly heal), you might be better off handling your own case.
Why do I make this recommendation? Because in these smaller cases, by the time you pay attorney’s fees and costs, it may leave little or no money for you. Clearly, that is not fair to you and accordingly, I have often advised people in this situation as to how they can best represent themselves.
On the other hand, I tell folks that a nationwide study showed:
PEOPLE REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEYS RECOVER 300% MORE THAN PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT REPRESENTED BY AN ATTORNEY.
That means that after the deduction of the usual one-third attorney’s fee, represented people took home 200% more even after their attorney was paid.
So, if you have been injured in an accident, BEFORE you talk to the other driver’s insurance company, it is important that you get informed of your rights. You can get informed many different ways: by reading the posts on this blog, reading the accident FAQ’s on my website, by requesting a FREE copy of my accident book, or by scheduling an appointment with an experienced accident attorney (Click here to see my post on how to select an accident lawyer).
By reading my book, you will have the benefit of much of the information I discuss with folks meeting with me in my office. In the event that you have any questions after reading this book (please read the book first), you may feel free to e-mail me at JReed@Zifflaw.com, call me at 1-800-ZiffLaw or visit my website at http://www.zifflaw.com(there are answers to many commonly asked questions on our Frequently Asked Questions pages). I would be happy to speak with you.
Thanks for reading,
Jim Reed, NY and PA Accident Lawyer
jreed@zifflaw.com