Q: Pedestrian hit while traffic light out
Asking question on behave of someone who got hit by a car crossing a street on a crosswalk while the traffic lights were out. Driver did not stop at the intersection, but did stop after the accident and gave the person that got hit a ride, fully accepting the fault later. After discussing this claim with the drivers insurance, they offer is 5K to cover medical expenses, and possible 10k on top of that (not sure about that, i haven't talked to insurance myself and the person that got hit does not speak good english). there wasn't any very serious injuries besides bruises here and there, pain all over the body for several weeks and whatever else might come with being hit by a car, and the lip required stitches and now theres visible scarring that causes discomfort(such as pain while eating) and would require some kind of cosmetic surgery to get rid of it.
My question - is it worth it to get a lawyer and try to get more out of insurance, or whatever they offer is considered a good deal?
A: Given the costs of litigating cases, as a general rule, some permanent, long term harm is necessary to bring in a lawyer. So this case might past that test with the scarring. With permanent injury the damages would or should be worth more than 15K. The problem in answering this question however, is INSURANCE. Is there insurance, and if so, what are the policy limits. That needs to be determined before making any other decision.
Gerald Barry Dorfman and Tim Akpinar agree with this answer
A: Yes, it's worth talking to an attorney. Consultations are free and your friend may find that he wants an attorney after speaking to one.
Gerald Barry Dorfman and Tim Akpinar agree with this answer
A: It’s important to know when the injury happened and what the other party’s policy limit is. Is the adjuster saying the policy limit is $15,000? Even then an attorney can find out if he was running an errand for an employer and if so you could pursue the employer as well. An attorney can also run an asset search. You should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney ASAP.
Tim Akpinar agrees with this answer
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A: Hire an attorney to help your friend. You should at least get a copy of the insurance coverage. Best of luck.
A: It's always good to get a legal opinion when dealing with insurance companies. They don't owe your friend any duties and always want to pay as little as possible. He should consult with an attorney and then he will know exactly what his rights are and a good estimate of the case value. Most times you get more with an attorney then without.
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