Most people settle their own car accident claim for far less than it was worth, because nobody ever told them otherwise and the adjuster was friendly on the phone.
The insurer’s job is to close your claim for as little as possible, as early as possible. That is not a criticism of them. It is just what the job is.
A properly presented claim accounts for the full picture, not just the emergency room invoice.
Volume advertisers screen hard, and if your case does not clear their threshold you may never speak to a lawyer at all. A soft tissue injury that keeps you out of work for six weeks is a real injury with real consequences, and it deserves an actual conversation.
If a case is not one this firm should handle, we will tell you that directly and point you somewhere useful. That costs you nothing either.
No, but get evaluated now. Adrenaline masks injuries and some soft tissue and head injuries present days later. Gaps in treatment do get used against you, so the sooner the record starts, the better.
Your own uninsured motorist coverage may respond to a hit and run. Report it promptly to law enforcement and to your insurer, since notice requirements can be strict.
Often yes, initially, and there may be a right of reimbursement out of any settlement. Handling those liens properly is part of the work and directly affects what you actually take home.
It depends mostly on how long your treatment takes, because valuing a claim before you know the full extent of the injury guarantees undervaluing it. Straightforward claims can resolve in months. Disputed liability or serious injury cases take longer.