Some insurance companies consider a lawyer's fees the cost of doing business. So they don't really give that consideration when they value a claim.
They also know that if you hire a lawyer and sue - you will have to pay your lawyer 1/2 of your settlement plus expenses - a smart adjuster will point it out to you that to you. Be careful trying to ague that the insurance company should give you more because you are saving them legal fees -the company can use that argument back against you. Because if you hire a lawyer - you have to pay him as well.
Lawyers for insurance companies charge around $125 an hour for work they do. You will have to pay 1/3 of any settlement you get to an attorney. How long have you been in negotiations?? Is there come compromise between the $3500 the insurance company is offering and the $5000 you want?? The insurance company may want to go to court as they may feel they will prevail at a hearing and you will get nothing at all. If you case is weak, the insurance company could prevail. Especially if you had some negligence in the injury such as not wearing a seat belt or you were on your cell phone. Keep discussing settlement with the adjuster, being persistent can sometimes get the result you want.
They already have lawyers on the payroll, so it doesn't really cost them anything extra.
The fact is that insurance companies can always out-lawyer claimants. Realistically, you'll be better off to settle, but perhaps you can counter-offer for something in between.
It's not costing them ANYTHING in legal fees - they have staff attorneys to take care of it.
I had a client once that was in your shoes.
He wanted $10,000 and the company offered $8000.
It went back and forth, back and forth and finally, he said "Well, I'll get an attorney.!!"
The company paid the $10000 - HIS attorney got $4000 and HE got $6000..........
You make the call....
Good luck and I hope this helps!
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