DAWSON LEGAL
WHEN SHOULD I CALL A LAWYER? Many people question whether they need a lawyer when they get injured in an accident. The answer is yes, they do. Here a few of the many reasons why you should strongly consider involving an attorney in the process: Understanding what insurance coverages an at-fault party has can make a difference in the amount of money an injured person can get. A good example of insurance coverage that many people don’t think about is medical payment coverage, also known as “MedPay.” Medical payments are often available to an injured party without regard to who is at fault, when a person is injured in another’s home. Like homeowner’s policies, some businesses may provide no-fault medical coverage for persons injured on their premises. Aside from the question of what coverages are disclosed, there is also the question of how insurance adjusters can take advantage of unrepresented individuals by trying to get them to settle their cases
quickly, or making low ball offers when people just want to get it over quickly. However, there are more pressing legal issues involved in resolving a claim. A signed release binds an injured party to terms and conditions which may later cause Steven Leibel them problems. I have seen where those who settle their claims still owe money to doctors and health care providers, after believing that the entire case has been resolved, because they settled too quickly, or didn’t know about those claims. Employer-sponsored health care plans can make claims against settlement funds even after a claim has been resolved. Medicare health plans have rights to part
of the settlement proceeds when an injured person uses Medicare to pay for medical bills resulting from an accident. The job of a personal injury lawyer is to make certain that the minefields associated with settlements are avoided. Protection of a client is a duty a lawyer owes to the people they represent. Insurance adjusters have no duty to people who are injured because of the negligence of individuals that they insure. Our office always provides free consultations for personal injury cases. Feel free to contact us at 404-892-0700 or at Leibel. com. Steven Leibel is a well-respected personal injury lawyer in Cumming and Dahlonega. He has consistently been recognized as a GA SuperLawyer in Personal Injury; rated 10 by AVVO, and he is considered “preeminent by his peers, as an Martindale AV rated attorney.” — Sponsored content
March/April 2022
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