2. You Lose The Leverage Of Filing A Lawsuit.
You are trying to decide whether you can settle your case with the insurance company without hiring an attorney, the key word here being “settle.” Insurance companies always factor in to their evaluation of your claim the reputation of your attorney. If you represent yourself, that is a big zero.
When an attorney with a reputation for filing lawsuits in response to unfair offers represents you, he/she brings immediate value to your claim because the insurance company must then factor in the additional time, expense, and uncertainty of a lawsuit. While I am on this point, you should also know that I have been told insurance companies track personal injury attorneys by their tax ID numbers.
They supposedly keep data on what attorneys routinely take less on a case, which do not file lawsuits, etc. Assuming you retain a competent attorney who is also a trial lawyer, you immediately add value to your claim by having that attorney involved.
