When An App Isn’t Enough After an Injury Crash

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on March 26, 2019

If you’ve ever been in a car accident, you know how traumatic it can be. Even if you aren’t injured, it can be a shock. And if you do sustain mild injuries, combined with the emotional stress of the situation, at the very least you’ll probably be feeling a bit shaken. Now imagine having your car totaled, with you in it, somehow managing to get yourself out of the vehicle, and then having to open an app on your phone to report the accident.

An app? Like the thing you use for ordering food or listening to music? Sadly, many insurance companies are moving in that direction.

Insurance companies are working hard to convince people that apps are the way to go – even airing an ad during the Super Bowl – claiming they help to “streamline” processes while saving clients’ money. But it doesn’t seem to be translating into lower car insurance rates for drivers. The app may make things easier on the carrier’s end, but they’re charging the same amount for a service that no longer treats customers like people. The reality is that, by relying on an app to gather customers’ information, companies can eliminate the employees who used to answer the phone when you called to report an accident, which saves them money and results in a less personal experience for the you, the customer.

If you’ve been in an accident, there’s so much to worry about that an app simply isn’t equipped to help you with. Your crash could result in countless financial challenges, including:

• The cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle;
• The cost of alternative transportation until your vehicle is repaired or replaced;
• The cost of your immediate medical care, and any long-term treatment or procedures;
• Lost income if you are unable to work due to injury; and
• Bills you’re unable to pay while out of work, which accrue interest and late fees.

One person who will never ask you to use an app is your lawyer. You may think that consulting with an attorney is a big step, and that your situation doesn’t warrant professional legal advice. It may surprise you to learn that many victims of car crashes speak to a lawyer within one week of being in an accident. You may think your insurance company is on your side, so you don’t need additional help. But the insurance company is a business trying to save as much money as possible and maximize profits, which means they won’t be eager to pay out claims. An attorney, on the other hand, is only concerned with what’s in your best interests and will work to secure the largest dollar amount for you.

An attorney will work with the insurance companies so that you don’t have to. Not only will this take a huge burden off your shoulders, it will also level the playing field. Insurance companies know that an injured person who is under stress and in pain won’t want to prolong the process. It is in their interests to take advantage of that fact. Adjusters and claim representatives prey on accident victims, counting on the fact that they won’t have the experience to realize what their claims could be worth. By offering small settlements worth only a fraction of what the injuries and property damage could be awarded, they can settle the claim quickly and cheaply. With a lawyer on your side, the insurance company won’t be able to use these tactics. Personal injury attorneys are experts in these matters and will spot a bad offer immediately. By hiring a lawyer to negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf, you are much more likely to get a fair deal.

You may not even realize which expenses could or should be covered by insurance. Without fair compensation, you could be stuck paying out of pocket for expensive treatments and equipment for temporary or even permanent disabilities. An attorney who has seen cases like yours knows what you are entitled to and can make sure you aren’t stuck footing the bill for medical care that you wouldn’t need if you’d never been in an accident.

Being in a car wreck is traumatic enough, without adding the stress of having to navigate the claims process on your own. For over four decades, the attorneys at Hardwick and Pendergast, P.S., have been helping people get what they deserve from insurance companies, working hard to make sure their clients aren’t cheated out of a fair settlement. If you’ve been in an accident, don’t go it alone. Call us at (425) 228-3860 or (253) 445-3860 to schedule a free consultation with a Seattle car accident lawyer who can evaluate your case, so you can focus on recovering your health and happiness.