Knowing when to call an attorney is always difficult. If you have never been injured in an accident, you may not know when to call. Candidly, you cannot call soon enough. Often, an insurance company will try to settle out the claim quickly because they don’t want to give your injuries time to manifest. This means they could be paying little to no money on a claim that is worth much more.

For example, a woman is rear-ended on the expressway. She immediately experiences left shoulder pain and goes to the emergency room. She is discharged home. She continues to treat with her primary care doctor and physical therapy for a few months, but her pain doesn’t seem to be getting any better. At this point, her auto-insurance company is tired of paying for medical bills and decides to offer her $7,500.00 to “cash out” her medical. She decides to do so, because her insurance company is telling her they only have to pay for the first year of medical bills anyway. The next month she has an MRI and finds out she has a torn tendon and needs surgery. Her health insurance now tells her that they will not pay. And she can’t go back to her auto-insurance because she “cashed out” her benefits. She doesn’t know where to turn and she cannot afford the surgery on her own. No-one told her that her auto-insurance policy had unlimited medical benefits and would be responsible for her medical bills past one-year – and could be potentially for life.

This woman should have called an attorney right away. Had she done so, it would have been explained to her that her medical bills were the responsibility of her auto-insurer – well beyond one year. She would have been informed that her medical bills are not the responsibility of her health insurer or the “at-fault” driver. An attorney would have explained that the “at-fault” driver is only responsible for pain and suffering damages, and, even then, only if she meets the “serious impairment” test in the state of Michigan.

In any event where you are injured, and you don’t know your rights – you should ALWAYS seek more information. It is NEVER too early to call an Attorney. Whether you’ve been bitten by a dog, slipped/tripped and fallen, been in a car-accident, or been injured in any other manner – you have a right to hold the responsible party accountable – know your rights.

If you were injured and you have questions- Call Local, Call Loryn - 231-799-5039. Free Consultations. I don’t get paid for questions - I only get paid for results.