Collecting valuable information

Steve Recordon, a California attorney with nearly 30 years of experience whose practice represents individuals who have been injured by dog bites, says that, in his experience, hiring an attorney right away in a dog bite case is very important because valuable witness information can be lost with the passing of time. He told us, “An experienced attorney can deal with witness statements, get the medical documentation together and verify lost wage information and other elements of damage – which can be daunting tasks in and of themselves. The attorney does this day in and day out and knows how to do it. He’s going to do a better job at it.”

Going toe to toe with insurance lawyers

Recordon also says that making sure you have someone on your side to go toe to toe with the insurance company’s lawyers is crucial. He explained:

One thing to bear in mind is that the insurance company, if there is one, will have an attorney on their side. So, it’s important that you are represented as well, so that the attorneys can deal with each other on that level – especially since the investigation starts immediately after the bite.

The adjustor is paid by the insurance company and they’re in business to make a profit. His job is to pay out as little as possible on a claim. Although the adjustor may seem really nice the victim may think that he or she will be treated fairly, the reality is that it’s a business and the adjustor is hired to do a job, which is paying out as little as possible. If that job is not done, it could get him fired.

So, they’re not there to do you a favor. They’re there to protect their own employer, which is the insurance company. An experienced attorney can also deal with witness statements, get the medical documentation together and verify lost wage information and other elements of damage – which can be daunting tasks in and of themselves. The attorney does this day in and day out and knows how to do it. He’s going to do a better job at it.

A common misconception

Dog bite victims often think that if they represent themselves, they’ll get more money in the end because they won’t have to pay an attorney. However, Recordon says that exactly the opposite is true.

What happens in reality is that when the insurance company is dealing with someone who’s not represented, the victim tends not to get anywhere close to the amount of money that they would net with an attorney’s representation. The difference in knowledge, putting the case together and preserving the evidence is huge. There’s just no way that someone who isn’t skilled, experienced and has handled these cases for many, many years can come anywhere close to getting the same net amount out of the insurance company.

If you’ve been injured due to a dog bite, contact an attorney whose practice focuses in this area of law to discuss your situation. Consultations are free, without obligation and are strictly confidential. To speak with an experienced attorney, please click here.