Whetstone & Odum
501-376-3564
Car Wrecks
The insurance adjuster is calling me – can I talk to him? Yes, but there is a risk. The major risk is giving a recorded statement and this applies to all insurance representatives including your own agent. We encourage you to talk with an attorney about your rights before talking with an insurance representative. Most of the time they will try to offer a small amount of money so that you will settle before you know how badly you are injured. They know times are tough and if they offer $1,000 a lot of people will accept it because they are behind on their bills or need to feed their families. It can't hurt to
talk with a qualified lawyer before talking with anyone else. Remember, the insurance adjuster's only goal is to make the claim go away as fast and as cheap as it can. Because they are professionals at getting you to say things that will damage your case you need to be very cautious.
Can I handle the case myself? Potentially yes, but it's going to be more complicated than you think. Usually when a person starts off handling their own case they don't understand the risks involved in signing documents for the insurance company or taking other steps that may damage the case. Many times the people that cause the accident don't even carry liability insurance and so the claim may be against your own insurance company. If you have health insurance who should cover your medical bills...your health insurance carrier or you car insurance carrier? The answers to these questions are best provided by your lawyer and not by an insurance company representative. We can help you through this process and prevent you from making mistakes. Your emphasis should not be on the mountain of paperwork, it should be on getting well.
How much is your fee? It does not cost you anything to have us evaluate your case and we think you will agree it will be time well spent to let us explain your rights. If we don't believe we can get you more money than you can on your own we won't take the case. If after we visit you decide you want us to represent you we will throughly discuss the fee. Usually, the fee is 25% if the case is settled out of court without filing a lawsuit which is what occurs most often in cases. We can give you the help you need and we hope you'll give us a call.
Why should I hire you? We have over 57 years of combined experience. Our track record speaks for itself. But more importantly, we will personally represent you; not a secretary or paralegal like some of the big advertising firms. You will have access to us via email and cell phone. You will never say you cannot get your attorney on the phone if we are given the opportunity to represent you!