This is a comment I recently saw on social media.
Large corporations and insurance companies with huge budgets for lobbying and propaganda have convinced people that lawyers (including insurance claim lawyers) and (by proxy) those who use them are the big bad guys.
"I'm not the kind of person to sue, but..."
Far too often, callers to our office say something along this line when just trying to find out their rights. Their voice carries apprehension - or dare I say shame - just because they are trying to figure out what to do next. I have found in my practice that people, in general, are just "not the kind of person to sue" especially down here in Louisiana.
Suing someone is not immoral or wrong. Especially when it comes to exercising your right to not be taken advantage of by someone with more money, more resources, and less of a conscience. There are well-reasoned and long-established laws protecting everyone’s rights. Why have rights if they won’t be protected?
If the other side refuses to treat you fairly and doesn’t hold up their end of the deal, are you just supposed to take it? Better to give up than have someone think you’re “sue-happy.” Is that what a “good guy” does? Just fold without worrying about how this will affect your home, your livelihood, your family, your finances, or your future? Is it better to let the bully win?
Why get an insurance claim lawyer?
Sadly, “not being that kind of person” just doesn’t get you paid.
Many times, there is simply no other way. There is nothing wrong, or immoral, or shameful about it. It's the way our American system was set up and has worked for hundreds of years. If one or both sides cannot agree, the American way is to have a judge or jury decide it. The insurance company is going to take advantage of every course of action available to them. Why is it wrong for you to do the same? Do not allow yourself to feel any guilt about taking care of yourself and your family.
“But won’t a lawyer just take all my money?”
In every case we handle, our goal is to obtain enough money that our clients’ damages are fully covered after our attorneys’ fees are paid. And, we only calculate our fees based on the additional amount that we were able to obtain over what the insurance company already offered you. So, you’re only paying a percentage of the money that you would likely not have received without working with us. In addition, on hurricane claims, attorneys can go after the insurance company for additional bad faith penalties above the damages that you are already owed including covering your attorney’s fees.
The insurance companies are playing a math game. Enough claimants will get tired, frustrated, and beat down enough to give up and accept the too-low insurance offer to make it “worth” paying litigation costs and any possible bad faith penalties and attorney’s fees for the few who fight back.
It can be such a relief when an attorney steps in and removes the burden weighing you down. You finally have someone looking after your interests.
