SECRET #2: Insurance Companies Want to Make Money, Not Pay Money.
Why? Well, insurance companies aren't
necessarily the bad guy, but it is very important that you understand
the big multi-billion dollar insurance companies want to make money
in order to keep their stockholders happy. It doesn't matter whether
it is your insurance company. The less that they pay you,
the better their business does. This is a fact!
Did you know that out of a dollar of insurance premium, only about 6 cents is paid out to people who have been injured? Yet more than 45 cents of that dollar goes to overhead and profits! It's not uncommon for insurance companies to never even offer a settlement!
But What About MY Insurance Company?
Don't take it for granted that your insurance company is going to be interested in paying you either. Remember, although your agent represents you, when it comes to his or her company paying out money - they are no different than any other insurance company. They want to pay as little as possible.
At a time when insurance company profits are soaring,
this seems to fly in the face of hard working individuals who have
been seriously injured and who somehow have to figure out how to
get their lives back in order. It's hard enough to make ends meet
today, and getting injured shouldn't have to make things worse.
When you add the stress of trying to negotiate with these professionals,
most people simply don't want to deal with the added pain - and
give up. They take what is offered, and unfortunately, usually end
up receiving less than if they had gotten some help.
Should I Hire A Lawyer?
While it seems that most people should know it is important to seek advice when they are injured, statistics show that many people don't. Here are four main reasons why people don't seek a lawyer:
- They don't know if they need a lawyer, so they are afraid to talk to one.
- They don't know a lawyer personally, so they don't use one.
- They aren't sure if they can trust a lawyer, so they don't use one.
- The insurance companies tell you that you will end up with less money if you hire an attorney, and people believe this is true. (By the way, it's absolutely NOT true.)
Well, all these reasons are not very good ones. In spite of all the lawyers jokes you may have heard, there are many honest, hard working, and ethical lawyers who can help you deal with insurance company claims. While it is true that a lawyer will usually get a portion of the money you collect from the insurance company, it is also true that a good lawyer dramatically increases your chances of getting a much larger settlement. Remember, lawyers will usually DOUBLE the amount of money in your pocket!
But that doesn't mean that hiring
an attorney is easy, and is the answer to all your problems. The
key is finding the RIGHT one. You see, there is as
much difference between individual lawyers as there is between different
doctors, auto mechanics or the other professionals. Choose carefully!
Some lawyers are personal injury "factories". They specialize in getting as many cases as possible, and hand them over to other lawyers for a cut of the action. Or they simply settle all their cases for much less than they could have, in order to clear the case as quickly as possible to make room for the next one.
Let me suggest that you should stay clear of a situation like this. You need a lawyer who will pay personal attention to you and who is available and will return your phone calls promptly. There is a difference!
I think it is a good idea for a lawyer to give personal commitment to ALL of his or her clients. Just look at the back page of this report. I commit to every client I have that they will be treated fairly and according to strict guidelines. Then I GUARANTEE to treat each client with the same respect, the same attention to their case and the same dignity. I can't stress to you how important this is!
The best way to find out about a specific
lawyer is to ask them to send you some free information about themselves,
and to meet with them to ask them the tough questions. The kinds
of questions I hope my clients ask me, because I want them to be
confident that they have chosen the best lawyer for their needs.
I always initially meet with my clients for free
so they can get to know a little more about me, and my experience,
as well as the chance to describe their situation. After describing
your injuries, a good lawyer should be able to give you a rough
idea of how they can help you, and what type of settlement you can
expect for your injuries. They should also have a good idea of whether
your case will got to court or not, and what kind of time will be
involved in settling the case.
Law Offices of
Ronald B. Laba
Personal Injury Law
2850 North Pio Pico, Suite I
Carlsbad, California 92008
Phone: (800) 490-2222 or (760) 439-8969 | Telefax: (760)
730-9949
Email: RonLaba@InjuryLawofSanDiego.com
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