The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world, leading to job loss, a health crisis, and financial instability. If you have suffered injuries from an Iowa car accident within the last couple of years, you are dealing with recovery during an uncertain time.
Many people are suffering significant financial stress because of coronavirus-related or accident-related job loss. On top of that, there are now obstacles to receiving medical care for your crash-related injuries.
Further, many courts have been shut down during the pandemic, causing further delays in processing legal claims, while others have remained open but have changed courthouse procedures, making it difficult to try cases before juries.
The financial stress you may be facing, combined with delays in medical care and the legal process, may leave you eager to settle your car crash claim quickly.
Insurance companies know that people are financially strapped and tired of waiting to resolve their claims. Insurance companies have always tried to settle claims quickly because the true value of your injuries cannot be accurately determined early on, and because they don’t want you to seek the advice of an attorney.
Now more than ever, insurance companies are taking advantage of injured people, eager to wrap up their car crash claims fast.
Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Settle Your Iowa Car Crash Claim Too Quickly
You should resist the urge to settle your claim too early. In a car crash case in Iowa, you can ask for money to compensate you for lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of function. But the insurance company is only going to write you one check.
Once you settle your case, it is final. If your pain doesn’t go away, you are off work longer than you expected, or you end up needing more medical care than you anticipated, no matter what you accepted in your settlement, it is final. You cannot go back and ask for more money to cover these additional damages. Whatever medical bills or lost wages are accumulated after you settle your claim have to be covered out of your own pocket.
Do You Need an Attorney For Your Car Accident Claim?
That’s why you must have a good understanding of what all your losses are before you settle your claim. The easiest way to do this is to speak with an attorney. An attorney can negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company to get you fair compensation for your injuries.
Not all Iowa car accident claims need an attorney, and we will be straightforward with you if we believe you can handle your claim on your own. But it never hurts to explore your rights before you make the decision to settle your case.We offer a free, no-obligation case evaluation to Iowans who have been in a serious car accident. That means you can speak with an attorney about your claim and find out if hiring an attorney is the best choice for you.
We know this is a difficult time for many Iowans. If you have been injured in a car crash in Iowa and want to speak with an experienced Iowa car accident attorney before your settle your claim, call RSH Legal today at 1-800-433-0283.
