Q: If I accept part payment for the property damage/loss from insurance company for claim, could I still get attorney
I was in an accident but I'm not sure if I am going to go through with the insurance company. The claim is for my injury and also for my personal belongings. If I accepted the payment for my belongings, but didn't agree with the offer for my injury claim, would I still be able to get an attorney after having accepted partial payment?
A:
A Pennsylvania attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. In general nationwide, people do settle their property damage claims at the beginning of a case, while the bodily injury portion of the case can move forward at a slower pace, sometimes taking years.
But that can be when liability is not in dispute. And my response is only a generality. I do not know the specifics of your case. An attorney would likely want to see your file and additional details before giving you a meaningful and definitive answer to your question.
As a general note of caution, any attorney would urge you to read your release very carefully to make certain you are not agreeing to settlement of ALL claims resulting from your accident ("ALL," as in including bodily injury as well). Since you are contemplating retaining an attorney for your injury case, you could consider showing them the paperwork you were given for settlement of your property damage to ensure that you do not relinquish any of your rights to your injury claim. Good luck
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