Greene & Phillips: Do I really need a lawyer?

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - After a car accident, sometimes the other driver’s insurance company quickly accepts responsibility for the crash. If they’ve already admitted their driver was at fault, you might think, “Great, this should be easy.” But does that mean you don’t need an attorney? David Greene with Greene & Phillips Personal Injury Lawyers joined us on Studio10 to explain.

The following questions and answers were provided by Greene & Phillips

If the insurance company accepts fault, isn’t the hard part basically over?

It certainly makes one part of the claim easier, but there’s a big difference between the insurance company accepting liability and agreeing on what your claim is worth. They may agree that their driver caused the accident while still disputing your injuries, your medical treatment, your lost wages, or how much they should ultimately pay you.

So when an insurance company says, “We accept liability,” what does that actually mean?

Generally, it means they’re accepting that their insured was responsible for causing the accident. But that doesn’t mean they’ve agreed to pay every medical bill or compensate you for everything you’ve experienced as a result. There are really two separate questions: Who caused the accident? And what damages resulted from it? Accepting fault answers the first question. We still have to address the second.

What kinds of things could they still dispute if they’ve already admitted their driver caused the wreck?

Quite a few things. They might argue that some of your medical treatment wasn’t related to the accident. They may question how long you needed treatment, whether all of it was necessary, how much work you missed, or whether a particular injury was caused by the wreck. They can also disagree with us about the value of things like pain, inconvenience, or how the injury affected your daily life.

What if it was a relatively straightforward accident and the insurance company seems to be cooperating? Is there anything wrong with someone trying to handle the claim themselves?

Not every accident requires an attorney. If there are no injuries and you’re simply dealing with property damage, you may be perfectly comfortable handling that yourself. But once you’re injured, receiving medical treatment, missing work, or dealing with a more significant claim, there are more things to consider. An experienced attorney can help make sure the claim is properly documented and that you understand what you may be entitled ted to recover before you agree to a settlement.

What does Greene & Phillips actually do for someone when fault isn’t really the issue?

We gather medical records and bills, document lost wages and other damages, communicate with the insurance company, evaluate the available coverage, and build the evidence necessary to show how the accident affected our client. Our job isn’t just to prove who caused the wreck. It’s to tell the full story of what that wreck has cost the person who was injured.

So even if the insurance company tells me, “Don’t worry, we’ve accepted responsibility,” I should still be cautious?

Absolutely. Accepting responsibility is a good start, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you and the insurance company are going to agree on everything that comes next. Before you settle an injury claim, make sure you understand what your case involves and what you’re giving up by resolving it.

If someone has questions about their claim, how can they get in touch with Greene & Phillips?

Give us a call, text or visit our website, GreenePhillips.com . Or, come by our office at 51 N Florida St. anytime; you never need an appointment.