I have been representing accident victims in Missouri and Illinois for more than 22 years, and I can tell you that one of the most important decisions people can make following an auto accident is whether to seek advice from an attorney.
It is such a vital step, and surprisingly most people do not take advantage of the free consultations offered by my office and most attorneys in the area.
The first week or two following an accident is critical because this is when the police report is getting written, and witnesses are readily available. In addition, the insurance company is more than likely going to contact you and try to get a statement. They may make a lowball offer to you.
Some people believe they can go through all this by themselves. However, there are a lot of important decisions to be made early on, and insurance companies know this and will try to take advantage of this. Sometimes, they might even tell you not to talk to an attorney. Well, there is a reason why they are doing that; they do not want you to get advice. They want you to make a mistake so they can settle your case for a small amount. During a consultation, I can teach you how to properly handle these scenarios.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of having a free consultation with a lawyer early on. You may not even need to retain their services afterward. I talk to people every week and give them a fair assessment of their case, and I will tell them honestly whether they would benefit from hiring legal counsel. Many times, if it is a minor accident with mild injuries or no injuries and medical expenses are under $5,000, you will not need an attorney. However, during that consultation, I am still going to give you valuable advice on:
Even if you do not hire me or end up not needing my services, I am still going to give you that advice, and it is not going to cost you anything. I will also give you a copy of my book, Crash and Learn, which I wrote to familiarize people with the claims process. It details how to get top value on your case, things you should not say to the insurance company, and tricks they try to pull on you.
If you were involved in an accident, there is so much information that you need to know. I would be more than happy to talk to anybody about the details of their potential case. Contact the office today with any additional questions about why these free consultations are important or to get yours scheduled.
