If you were injured in a car accident, you may be facing mounting medical bills and be unable to work. In addition to the physical pain that you are in, you may also be angry and confused about what to do next. Many car accident victims wonder if they should accept an insurance settlement or pursue legal action by filing a personal injury lawsuit.
There are several reasons that you may wish to pursue legal action if you were injured in an auto accident, including:
1. You may get additional compensation in a personal injury lawsuit. Insurance companies are limited by the amount of coverage that the insurance policy provides. For instance, if a driver maintains $50,000 of liability insurance coverage, this is the most that the insurance company could offer you if you are injured in an accident. By pursuing legal action, you are not necessarily limited to the limits of the insurance policy and you may be able to recover additional sums from the negligent driver, especially if he or she has significant assets.
2. Insurance c
ompanies – even your own – may not have your best interest in mind. Insurance companies are in the business of making money and, as such, they often provide a formulaic approach to insurance settlements and offer less than your claim may be worth. A personal injury lawyer can help you determine what you claim is worth and whether it makes sense to pursue legal action.
3. You may be able to collect compensation for future medical bills. In many cases, a person injured in an auto accident will incur medical and rehabilitation services that may continue for several months or even years. Accordingly, your medical treatment may not be complete at the time the insurance company offers a settlement. A personal injury lawsuit allows a successful plaintiff to recover for all medical bills – including any future medical bills – as well as lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
4. You may have multiple causes of action against multiple parties. Many auto accidents, such as multi-vehicle accidents, involve more than one negligent parent. In some cases, an auto manufacturer may also be liable for an auto defect that caused or exacerbated the accident, in addition to a negligent driver. In situations such as these, insurance companies often point the finger at each other in an attempt to reduce or eliminate the amount of the claim. By pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, complex issues of liability can be sorted out by the court.
5. A lawsuit can resolve related legal issues. In some auto accidents, the victim may be partially responsible for the accident. A personal injury lawsuit can resolve issues of comparative negligence so that the victim can still obtain financial compensation.
