Should I get attorney for auto accident?
Saturday, November 15th, 2008 at
8:57 pm
cvangundy7 asked:
someone hit my parked car with a tractor. (Ohio) buy prescription drugs my 1999 grand am is totaled. I konw insurance is going to offer low. should i seek a lawyer or try to deal with it on my own. I know to buy a similar car in my area anywhere from 5-7 thousand. Is this a realistic settlement??
someone hit my parked car with a tractor. (Ohio) buy prescription drugs my 1999 grand am is totaled. I konw insurance is going to offer low. should i seek a lawyer or try to deal with it on my own. I know to buy a similar car in my area anywhere from 5-7 thousand. Is this a realistic settlement??
I know in Indiana you would get book value in mint condition if it was parked and hit. And yes, I would get a lawyer. It won’t cost you a dime because most attorneys add their money to the settlement, and no win, no charge. Call around.
If buying a similar car is about 5-7 then that is what you can expect from the insurance company. If they offer you lower, haggle with them. I don’t think an attorney is necessary. Your car was parked so it is obvious you aren’t at fault. Just work this on your own. Besides, if you get an attorney, it will only slow down the claims process and in the end, when and if you win, approx 20% of the settlement goes to the attorney.
I would listen to the woman who justed posted. Most insurance do not like going to court so they probably will work with you. The lawyer will end up getting most of the settlement and that is money you could have kept in your pocket.
You will only be compensated for the fair market value of your vehicle. The insurance company will not LOW BALL YOU. 99.9% of the time an attorney will NOT take your case for property damage, because they would get nothing out of it. There is also nothing they can do to get you more money. The total loss value of a vehicle is not negotiable. The insurance company will run a market evaluation of your vehicle (same year, make model), similar options, mileage and condition and come up with a value. THey will then extend the offer to you – they will also submit a copy of the evaluation to you which will show similar vehicles (same year, make, model) as your vehicle in your area, in case you want to purchase the same vehicle again. I’m sorry, but you have an 8 year old Pontiac, there is no way it is worth 5-7 thousand dollars anywhere in the United States. (BTW – the insurance companies do not use NADA or blue book – those are not accurate reflections of fair market value of vehicles).
The insurance company is not going to pay you to replace your auto they are only liable to pay you the actual cash value of the car. Its up to you whether or not to obtain an attorney, but remember the lawyer might take a third of any settlement you get…