When Oklahoma car accidents occur, they often give rise to the involvement of insurance companies who will attempt to settle a claim before those who have been injured in the collision take the matter to court. While this may seem like a relatively straightforward process, there are several reasons that those who face the prospect of negotiating a settlement with an insurance company should seek the help of experienced Oklahoma City car accident lawyers. A few of these reasons are discussed below.
INSURANCE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES ARE NOT WORKING FOR YOU
Many insurance adjusters will initiate contact with someone who has been injured in an Oklahoma car accident with an approach that seems to indicate an interest in resolving the matter as soon as possible. While this may be true, that doesn’t mean that insurance company representatives are working with your best interests in mind. Insurance companies are for-profit entities, which means that the less that’s paid out in settlements and claims, the higher their profit margin will be and the more their stock will be worth. Therefore, those who discuss these matters with insurance adjusters should not expect to obtain an early offer that’s fair or equitable in most cases.
OKLAHOMA CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS CAN PREVENT CERTAIN TACTICS
In an effort to settle claims as quickly as possible and with the lowest payout possible, many insurance company representatives will engage in tactics that are designed to prompt the person who has been injured to simply accept the settlement offer that’s pending as opposed to taking on additional perceived risks. These tactics can include delaying the process until the statute of limitations is about to run and simply refusing to raise an offer that’s clearly unreasonable.
However, when an Oklahoma car accident lawyer is involved, the insurance company representative understands clearly that there will be no hesitation to take a matter to court, and that the attorney will understand what would constitute a fair and reasonable settlement offer. The bottom line is that when a driver is clearly at fault, insurance companies that cover them generally do not want to incur the expense of litigation if the facts are clear, especially when an Oklahoma car accident attorney who is helping those who have been injured is already familiar with the case.
If you or someone you love has been harmed in a collision, you should seek the help of experienced Oklahoma car accident attorneys as soon as possible to ensure that you are doing everything you can to obtain an insurance company settlement that’s fair, reasonable and prompt. Contact AMA Law today to schedule a free initial consultation.