After someone is injured in a vehicle collision that was another driver’s fault, this person may try to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company. Acquiring a reasonable settlement can be difficult without representation by Car Accident Attorneys in Kankakee. The insurer may refuse to negotiate with the injured person, knowing this individual probably needs money and may be willing to accept a low settlement offer. Another issue involves the concept of maximum medical improvement (MMI), or the point at which the person will not experience any further improvement in his or her condition. An injured person is better off not accepting a settlement until the doctors verify MMI. Accepting money too early can leave future medical bills and lost wages unpaid.
The problem with waiting for MMI and not having representation by Car Accident Attorneys in Kankakee is the statute of limitations according to state law. These statutes vary by state; in Illinois, the time limit is two years from the date of the accident for an injured person to file a lawsuit. After two years, the insurance company has no reason to negotiate further. Once a lawyer becomes involved and files suit, the case can continue as the attorney and the insurer decide an amount of compensation everyone can agree on.
If the insurer proves unwilling to negotiate beyond a certain amount, a law firm such as Godin, Denton & Elliott begins preparing to bring the case to trial. Personal injury cases hardly ever proceed to court, however, since insurance companies do not want the expense and risk of trial. A jury made up of ordinary citizens may very well feel sympathetic to the accident victim as compared with the big insurance corporation. They might award an amount far greater than the lawyer and the client had ever asked for.
Anyone struggling to negotiate with an insurer after an accident may look at more info about the personal injury legal process. Free consultations are available from attorneys who handle these cases, and they typically do not charge upfront fees after being hired. Instead, they accept a certain percentage of the settlement or court award, as agreed on beforehand.
