We’ve warned Alaskans who are injured by someone else’s negligence to never attempt to negotiate with an insurance provider for a settlement without the legal expertise of an Alaska personal injury lawyer.
In this issue, we have yet another classic real-life illustration why it literally pays to let the process play out. After being seriously injured in a car accident, the insurance provider of the at-fault driver offered to settle the case for $15,000. The woman wisely declined, and was eventually awarded $1.2 million for her injuries – that’s about 80 times the original offer.
The Case at a Glance
The case revolved around a three-car collision. While the lead car was stopped in the right lane, a second car crashed into it from behind. The third car, in which the victim was a passenger, then slammed into the rear of the second car, resulting in a chain reaction-type crash.
The victim experienced a host of injuries to her left arm, including nerve damage, permanent loss of motion and grip strength, and multiple small bone fragments that could not be restored to their natural position.
Her injuries mean that she will surely experience the early onset of arthritis that will progressively worsen.
Why did the insurance company offer so little to settle?
The incident occurred in New Jersey, a state which permits motorists to carry as little as $15,000 in liability insurance coverage. In most instances, an insurance provider’s settlement offer will not exceed the limit of the policy coverage.
Here in Alaska, motorists are required to carry $50,000/$100,000 to cover bodily injury or death and $25,000 for property damage.
When the established limits will not be enough to provide proper compensation, a personal injury lawsuit is a wise recourse.
If you’ve been injured by another driver, call the Alaska car crash lawyers at Barber & Associates.
The first people you should call after being involved in a car crash are your doctor and a skilled Alaska personal injury lawyer. As the above case clearly illustrates, you need an advocate when the other person’s insurance provider is not offering to step up.
If you are injured by someone else, don’t deal with insurance companies on your own. Instead, get in touch with us here at Barber & Associates.
The first meeting is always free, so call us at 907-276-5858 or send an email.