When you suffer a serious injury in an accident, you can feel overwhelmed by how complicated your life suddenly becomes. You now may unable to work because of a traumatic brain injury or because you broke your leg and pelvis. You may face months of rehabilitation for a back or spine injury. You also have to shop for a new car at some point if the accident totaled your vehicle.

Accepting an insurance settlement for an injury

When you file a personal injury claim, you may just want to move forward. You just want to pay for your medical bills and focus on your recovery. You might feel more than ready to accept the settlement the insurer offers you. However, accepting the first offer for a settlement in your injury claim is not in your best interests.

Insurance companies typically offer settlements that are lower than the money you deserve in a personal injury claim. If you have serious injuries, the settlement may not even cover all the medical costs you will incur or compensate you fairly for your lost wages or pain and suffering. The insurance company also may claim you were partially at fault for the accident and thus not want to pay your full medical bills and lost wages. Or the insurer might claim your injury was a pre-existing condition, something you suffered from before the accident occurred.

Getting help with your personal injury claim

You should consult a personal injury attorney before accepting any settlement for your accident injuries. An attorney can better determine what compensation you should receive from your injuries. An attorney can help you document how serious your injuries are and show that if you had a preexisting condition, the accident aggravated that. Finally, an attorney can negotiate with an insurer to ensure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.

Unfortunately, dealing with a personal injury claim can be frustrating and time consuming. With an attorney’s help, you can better ensure you get the compensation you deserve from an insurer. Without legal help, you are unlikely to receive that and may find yourself eventually paying out of your own pocket for your recovery.