If you have been in a car accident, your car is a mess and you have suffered some injuries, probably the last thing you need is to find out that the other driving is suing you. If this is your case, what you need to do is arm yourself with the right information to come out of this lawsuit successfully. Here are some tips to get you started:
The plaintiff is suing you because they cannot sue your insurance company
Why? Because the law dictates that in personal injury cases the only way to bring a lawsuit is against the individual. And if you do go to trial, the jury will be kept in the dark as to what insurance you have.
If you get an attorney appointed by your insurance company, they will be working for them and for you
Is that fair? Do you think that a lawyer that is placed in this position by an insurance company will really have your best interests in mind? You want to have peace of mind that the insurance company is representing you in good faith. You may find that at the end of the day the lawyer is trying to save the insurance company money at your expense.
It is extremely unlikely that you will end up paying anything out of pocket
The most likely outcome is that you will not have to pay more than the limit of your insurance benefits.
Don’t be bullied into changing your story
If the lawyer that your insurance company appointed for you is asking you to change your story, consider talking to them and asking them to appoint somebody else. Even if you rear-ended the other vehicle and admitted doing so to the officers at the scene, the lawyer may want you to deny that. Don’t get yourself into deeper waters and come across as being irresponsible and hostile. Don’t change your story, change your lawyer.
Why were you sued in the first place?
You may also be wondering how come things got to this point. There may be several reasons for this to have happened. Among them:
You might not have insurance
If this is your case, you should know that the only way for the other driver to recover their losses is through a lawsuit.
The insurance you do have is not enough
If the damage to the other driver’s car is too high and to that, you add their medical expenses, your insurance might not cover that amount.
It’s taking too long
If the insurance companies aren’t responding fast enough, a lawsuit may be the fastest way to get the money.
What are the first steps to take if you are being sued?
Start by calling your insurance company and make sure to give them a copy of the paperwork you have received. Confirm from them the limits of your policy, find out the precise amount.
If you are getting one of their lawyers, make sure this is the right person for you to work with. Otherwise, get your own lawyer to look out for you and your interests.
Facing a lawsuit may have you feeling anxious and stressed. Don’t take it personally and get in touch with 1800injured.care lawyers to get connected with an attorney. 1-800-Injured is a legal and medical referral network that connects clients with attorneys in a network.