After a car accident, your first priorities should be clear: calling the police, getting medical care, and making sure your family is safe. But once those adrenaline-fueled first hours have passed, you have a lot of additional problems that start piling up. Medical bills, ongoing medical treatment, unpaid time away from work, insurance company calls, and a damaged vehicle all take their toll.

Many car accident victims wonder if they can handle the legal side of their accident alone, or if they should call an auto accident attorney. In truth, not every car accident requires an attorney. However, there are some very clear warning signs you should watch out for—and if you see them, it’s time to talk to an attorney. Call Banks & Jones to set up a consultation right away.

Serious or long-term injuries

If your accident resulted in serious injuries, the stakes are incredibly high. These types of claims can leave you with tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills, not to mention the potential for a permanent loss of income. If you need long-term care or have a permanent disability, your ongoing healthcare needs are likely to be extraordinary. Without a fair settlement, you could be left covering these expenses on your own.

Insurance companies tend to be extremely aggressive when it comes to these types of claims. They know that serious injuries can be incredibly expensive, and they absolutely do not want to be on the hook for them. They might downplay the severity of your injuries, claim that your medical treatment was unnecessary, or blame a supposed pre-existing condition. An attorney can protect you against this sort of treatment.

Disputed or shared fault

Some cases are cut-and-dry—one party is obviously at fault and the other had no role in causing the crash. But when your case is a little bit more complex, it’s a good idea to bring in a car accident attorney. When the other party’s insurance provider tries to claim that you caused the accident or that liability is split evenly between the two drivers, you might need a legal advocate. There’s a good chance that they are trying to shift just enough blame onto you that you cannot recover compensation. Under Tennessee law, a partially at-fault victim can still receive compensation in court as long as their share of blame is 49% or less. Any award may be reduced by your percentage at fault, and the moment it hits 50% or more, you’re barred from recovery.

Unfortunately, this gives insurance companies some wiggle room. If they can prove that you are 50% or more at fault, you’re barred from recovering damages in court.

Pressure from the insurance company

Insurance adjusters are trained to resolve claims as quickly and cheaply as they can. Insurance companies spend a shocking amount of money on figuring out the best ways to do this. That’s why you shouldn’t be surprised if the insurance adjuster is suddenly calling you multiple times a week, pushing you to give a recorded statement, or telling you that their offer is only available if you accept it right this moment. They’re doing that to play on your fear. You have mounting medical bills, and you may be on unpaid leave from work. They want you to believe that if you don’t take the insultingly low settlement they’ve offered you, you’ll get nothing. Why? They do this because they know that if you wait and find out the extent of your injuries and repair costs, the accident will likely get much more expensive for them.

If you can’t get the other party’s insurance company to leave you alone or you’re starting to feel harassed or intimidated, don’t give in. Talk to a car accident lawyer and protect your rights.

More than two vehicles are involved

Two-car accidents are more likely to be straightforward. One driver caused the crash, while the other just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But when there are three or more vehicles involved, this gets much more complex. Every insurer may argue that their driver wasn’t the primary cause of the crash, so they won’t pay anything. This leaves victims in the lurch. No one will claim liability, but no one will help them figure out how to get their expenses covered. This is a situation where insurance companies often just wait out the victims until they’re willing to accept a pitiful amount, so they aren’t left with nothing. In this case, you’ll likely need an attorney who is committed to figuring out what actually happened and pursuing the compensation you may be entitled to.

Cannot reach the other party’s insurance company

On the other side of “insurance company calls you too much” is “insurance company has ghosted you entirely.” This is very frustrating for victims. Their expenses are adding up, and they know that they aren’t at fault, but they can’t even get the other party’s insurance adjuster on the phone. Insurance companies can be very good at stalling, dragging out the process, asking for unnecessary or irrelevant documentation, and making the process of requesting compensation as annoying as possible. Their goal? Get accident victims to give up entirely and cover their expenses through their own car and health insurance.

Fight back against unfair insurance practices with Banks & Jones, Attorneys at Law

If you’ve been injured in a car accident and you aren’t sure if you’re entitled to compensation, the team at Banks & Jones can help you explore your options. Set up a consultation right away by contacting us online or calling us today.