Being involved in a serious car accident can turn your life upside down in an instant. Suddenly, you’re in a hospital bed, unable to work, worrying how you’ll be able to provide for your family. When the insurance adjuster reaches out to offer you a deal, it may seem like the easiest thing to accept it.

However, taking this offer can be a costly mistake. Here’s why:

Insurance adjusters don’t work for you

It’s important to understand that insurance adjusters work for the insurance company – not for you. Their interest is in paying out as little as possible. Their goal is to give you a low-ball offer that will cover all of your immediate expenses – such as the repair of your car and your hospital bills. It will likely not include other, equally important damages to support you over the long term, such as:

• Lost wages from your inability to work – or inability to return to your previous type of employment
• Physical therapy or other long-term medical needs
• Damages for a permanently disabling condition
• Damages for mental and emotional anguish
• Impacts of your injury on your family

All of these damages have significant value, and accepting an offer from the insurance adjuster could mean losing out on these.

How a lawyer can help

A personal injury lawyer can provide valuable assistance to you following an accident:

• They start by working to understand the full scope of your injuries – and the impacts on all aspects of your life, now and in the future.
• They can then negotiate directly with the insurance company on your behalf – and advocate for your maximum compensation entitled to you under the law.
• Importantly, they can take care of all of the heavy lifting for you. They handle the lawsuit while you focus on your own recovery.

Personal injury lawyers are affordable

One common misconception is that lawyers are always expensive. However, it’s worth understanding that personal injury lawyers operate differently than other types of lawyers. They don’t charge a high hourly rate, and they don’t require a steep retainer fee.

Instead, Colorado personal injury lawyers – by law – are required to operate on a contingency fee basis. This means that they only get paid if they win your case, and their payment is deducted as a fixed percentage of your settlement. Therefore, you never have to pay any money out of pocket.

Following a serious injury caused by someone else’s negligence, filing a personal injury lawsuit is one of the most effective ways to seek justice – and move on with your life.