I can’t tell you how many times someone contacts me following an accident and apologetically lets me know that he or she has never done this before and is not “that” kind of person that sues people.
For the first nine years of my career, I worked in large law firms representing large insurance companies fighting against injured individuals and individuals whose loved ones had been killed. I also represented insurance companies fighting their own insureds, people who paid monthly premiums for insurance coverage but, when they suffered a loss, were denied payment by their insurance companies who hired me to fight against them.
When I started my own law firm 11 years ago, I made a commitment to only represent injured individuals and those who suffered loss due to the death of a loved one. Here’s my response to anyone who is not “that” kind of person. If you are injured because of someone else’s negligence, you are absolutely entitled to obtain medical treatment to put you back into your pre-accident condition, or in cases of serious injury, to make you “as good as you’re going to get,” commonly referred to as reaching maximum medical improvement. You may also be entitled to compensation for past and future lost wages, loss of opportunity, pain and suffering, loss of consortium and a whole host of other elements of damages. It does not mean you are greedy, and the very reason that a person carries insurance is to protect him or herself personally from these types of claims.
Having worked on both sides, I can attest to the fact that insurance companies often will do everything in their power to pay injured individuals as little as possible or nothing at all regardless of the nature and extent of their injuries. Time and again, I’ve seen insurance companies pay a larger amount of money to attorneys to fight a claim than the amount it would take to simply settle the claim. Many insurance adjusters are so biased against individuals who are genuinely injured that they are unable (or unwilling) to fairly evaluate a claim or have empathy toward someone whose life may have just been forever altered. I have also seen adjusters use every tactic possible to persuade an unrepresented person to take a small settlement, often before the individual has even determined the full extent of his or her injuries.
So, the next time you feel that you need to apologize because you are not “that” kind of person, ask yourself this: Am I the kind of person that stands up for what is fair and just? There is no shame in seeking justice!
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence and you would like to discuss your personal injury claim, contact Bass Law to schedule your free, no obligation consultation with Attorney Dondra Bass O’Neal. You may contact us directly through this website or by calling 912-344-4294.