What Happens When You Can’t Settle Your Car Accident Claim?
Did you know that 5,250,837 accidents resulting in 35,000 fatalities occur in the United States every year? Hello, I’m Ziad Youssef, the principal, and founder of Bellingham Injury Law, PLLC. For nearly 20 years, I have been helping drive justice home for victims of auto accidents. Each client I’ve represented has had their own journey and unique story, but they all share one thing in common: They want just compensation for the life-changing experience that comes from being involved in a serious motor vehicle accident. In my blog, and on my “Monday Morning Legal Minute Podcast”, I discuss the unique lessons I’ve learned in nearly 20 years of representing victims of serious auto accidents.
Today I want to talk about what happens when the insurance company for the at fault party is disputing who’s responsible when you know it was their fault and what happens when the insurance company decides to assign some portion of the responsibility to you. How do you get around that? What do you do? We get this situation from time to time, and it makes it really difficult to evaluate whether or not we’re gonna take the case.
What we want you to do is to be very clear about who the witnesses were, what evidence you can collect early on. That’s probably the most important part of this, and we’ve talked about it several times on Monday morning legal minute. One of the best ways to do that is to have a dashcam. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had those types of disputes resolved just because someone had a dash cam. And I think that’s probably one of the best ways to preserve the evidence.
What to Do When Settlement Attempts Fail
If attempts to settle a car accident claim fail, there are several options available:
- Mediation or Arbitration: Mediation or arbitration involves bringing in a neutral third party to help facilitate negotiations and reach a resolution outside of court. This can be a less adversarial and costly alternative to litigation.
- Litigation: If all other options fail, the injured party may choose to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party to seek compensation through the court system. Litigation can be a lengthy and expensive process but may be necessary to pursue fair compensation for damages.
- Seek Legal Assistance: Consulting with a personal injury attorney experienced in car accident cases can provide valuable guidance and representation throughout the settlement process. An attorney can advocate for your rights, negotiate with insurance companies, and, if needed, represent you in court.
While most car accident claims are settled without much difficulty, some cases present challenges that make reaching a resolution a prolonged and complex process. Disputes over liability, inadequate insurance coverage, complex injuries, and uncooperative parties can all contribute to the difficulty of settling a claim. In such situations, seeking legal assistance and exploring alternative dispute resolution methods may be necessary to achieve a fair outcome. By understanding the potential challenges and available options, individuals involved in car accidents can navigate the settlement process more effectively and advocate for their rights.
If you or someone you love was injured in an auto accident, you need an experienced auto accident injury attorney to help fight for the compensation you deserve. Let Bellingham Injury Law handle your auto accident case so you can focus on your recovery. We work on a “no win, no fee” basis, which means you don’t pay us a dime unless we win your case. Your story matters to us and we listen, fight, and drive justice home for you. Remember, accidents happen, but with Bellingham Injury Law you won’t be left stranded on the roadside!
Call us now at (360) 255-5046 to schedule your free consultation.
