You need to retain counsel. You need counsel to ensure you obtain maximum recovery and file the appropriate documents at the appropriate time. Without that expertise, you won't obtain the most you could. Period. If you have a good attorney, he or she will work hard to make sure the insurance company feels pressured to settle in your favor as soon as possible. Fighting with an insurance company generally exacerbates things. Exceptional personal injury attorneys know to prove their case to the insurance company up front so there is little question of who wins. In regard to how much you can expect - that depends. The minimum policy limit in Georgia is $25,000 liability. This is from the at-fault driver. You need an attorney to properly navigate your case and get maximum recovery, otherwise you wouldn't know to look at you UM coverage, etc. Generally, attorneys take 25-45% of the recovery, depending on how much work goes into a case. For example, an attorney who puts in little to no effort and secures your settlement promptly, will likely charge 25-33%. However, an attorney who ends up having to go to trial for your case, will likely have to charge more to cover his or her costs. I strongly encourage you to consult an attorney.
Answered on Sep 30th, 2013 at 1:15 PM