Have you been injured in a car accident in North Dakota? If so, you will likely deal with an insurance company. Insurance providers only protect their best interests. Working with an experienced personal injury attorney is the best way to protect your interests.
Since 1909, the attorneys of Pringle & Herigstad, P.C. have fought for the rights of injured parties to fair compensation. We level the playing field with insurance companies. You do not have to deal with a claim on your own.
Call Pringle & Herigstad, P.C. to schedule a free consultation with our North Dakota personal injury lawyers. Let us take up the fight with the insurance company for you.
How Pringle & Herigstad, P.C. Helps You With a Car Accident Claim
The insurance company handling your car accident claim has a team of lawyers, claims adjusters, and other professionals protecting it from liability. When you hire our top-rated North Dakota car accident attorneys at Pringle & Herigstad, P.C., you have a team of highly skilled attorneys and legal professionals fighting for your rights.
We handle all aspects of your car accident claim, including but not limited to:
- Perform an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the car accident to gather evidence
- Work with the best expert witnesses in their fields as necessary to strengthen your case
- Defend you against accusations of comparative fault and blame
- Determine how much your claim is worth after analyzing your damages
- Negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement amount
- Litigate your case in court if the insurance company refuses to agree to a settlement
We represent clients throughout Fargo, Bismarck, Jamestown, Rugby, Trenton, and other areas from our offices in Minot and Grand Forks. Contact Pringle & Herigstad, P.C. to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced North Dakota car accident attorney.
Tips for Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Car Accident in North Dakota
Whether you are injured in a car accident in Grand Forks, Williston, Bismarck, or anywhere in between, one thing is the same. You need to know how to handle insurance companies to maximize compensation and avoid common pitfalls that could hurt your case.
Things to remember when dealing with an insurance company after a car crash include:
Avoid Recorded Statements
The insurance adjuster may ask you to provide a recorded statement. Speaking on a recorded line or agreeing to provide a recorded statement is not in your best interest. These recordings can be used against you later in the claims process. You are not legally required to provide a recorded statement. Therefore, decline this request and tell the adjuster you will consult a personal injury lawyer before providing a formal statement.
Understand Comparative Negligence
North Dakota’s modified comparative fault law sets a 50% bar for damages for the victim. If you are more than 50% to blame for causing your car accident, you cannot recover damages from the other driver. If you are less than 50% to blame, you may recover damages, but the amount is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Insurance companies often shift blame to avoid paying the full value of damages. An adjuster asks all types of questions to obtain statements that could be misinterpreted to imply fault. Talking to an insurance adjuster before consulting an attorney could lead to errors that significantly lower the value of your case.
Never admit fault for causing an accident. Do not speculate about what happened or make presumptions about fault without an attorney’s advice.
Follow Through With Medical Treatment
Do not downplay your injuries at the accident scene. Saying you are “fine” or “okay” can be used against you later in your case. Seeking prompt medical treatment and following your doctor’s treatment plan is essential. You need medical evidence to prove that the car accident caused your injuries.
Victims have a duty to mitigate damages. Delaying medical treatment and failing to follow a treatment plan could result in allegations of failure to mitigate damages. The insurance company will argue that you are not entitled to compensation for any damages you could have avoided.
For example, suppose you did not follow your doctor’s instructions. As a result, you develop an infection. The insurance company may deny any damages related to the infection.
Resist Pressure Tactics to Accept a Settlement
Insurance companies often make quick settlement offers to accident victims. Early settlement offers are designed to entice victims to settle before they understand the full extent of their injuries and damages.
For instance, you might assume that your aches and pains will subside in a few weeks, so you accept a settlement offer. Then, the doctor informs you that you need physical therapy or more extensive treatment. If you accepted a settlement offer and ended your claim, you are responsible for all future medical bills, lost wages, and other economic damages.
Seek Legal Advice Before Signing Documents
The insurance company may ask you to sign documents. These documents could include enforceable legal agreements. For example, a settlement agreement is a contract that can be enforced in court. Even if you did not realize you were waiving your right to file a lawsuit or pursue additional claims, you would be bound by your agreement.
Settlement agreements usually waive all rights to additional claims and compensation. The waiver covers any known or unknown claims. Therefore, even if you are unaware you might have a claim for additional compensation, you give it up by signing the settlement agreement.
Signing a request for medical records could also present problems. The insurance company may tell you that it needs your medical records to verify your injuries, so you sign the request. However, it does not explain that the request covers all medical records.
The company could obtain records that do not relate to the car accident. The purpose is to search for pre-existing conditions and injuries. The company may argue that these conditions and injuries are the source of your current condition instead of a car accident.
Before signing any documents for an insurance company after a car accident, consult a personal injury attorney.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With Our North Dakota Personal Injury Attorneys
Dealing with an insurance company after a car accident can be frustrating. You deserve to be compensated fairly for your injuries and damages. Instead, the insurance company tries to undervalue and deny your claim. Call Pringle & Herigstad, P.C. to discuss your legal options with a North Dakota car accident lawyer.
Our personal injury attorneys help clients throughout North Dakota, including Grand Forks, Devils Lake, Williston, and many other towns and cities.
