Insurance companies are in business to do one thing: make money. Laskin Balma Attorneys at Law in Sacramento CA has fought for its clients for many years. When the insurance company digs their heels in and refuses to offer a reasonable settlement, we go to war.
We recently had an interesting case where our refusal to bend to pressure to settle for less than what a case was worth really worked to our client’s advantage. She had medical bills over $38,000.00. The third-party policy was only $100,000.00 and it seemed pretty reasonable to us expect to be offered the policy limits immediately. That was not the case. The insurance company refused to offer the policy limits and in fact made an insulting offer of only $50,000.00. Laskin Balma Attorneys at Law in Sacramento CA wasted no time filing the lawsuit and beginning the discovery process.
Discovery is when each side asks questions and requests documents in order to get more information from each other. Written discovery is the first thing that goes out after an answer has been received from a defendant. With that information we can figure out what else we want to know and what we need to clarify at deposition.
Depositions are a very important part of the discovery process. It is like an interview. When a plaintiff has a deposition the opposing counsel asks our client questions orally. Sometimes it is videotaped, sometimes not. The witness is put under oath and a court reporter takes down every word that is said. The defense can get a good idea about the type of person our client is by meeting them in person. Depositions will usually reveal if a client would make a good witness at trial.
In the case I am talking about our client did a fantastic job. With Alan Laskin and Laskin Balma Attorneys at Law in Sacramento CA by her side the entire time, she was confident, honest, earnest, and calm. Our client blew the opposing counsel out of the water. They were impressed with her. After her deposition was taken, the defense knew without a doubt that she would make a great witness if the case proceeded to trial. In order to avoid a jury giving our client an award greater than their policy limits, thirty days after our client’s deposition, the insurance carrier agreed to settle for the policy limits of $100,000.00.
Much of the credit for this victory has to go to the client. She was properly prepared and went in to the deposition with confidence. Laskin Balma Attorneys at Law in Sacramento CA could have backed down and accepted the defense’s offer, but we knew that our client was in the right and that she was worth fighting for, and after her deposition, the defense did too.
Need advice? Feel you have a potential personal injury case? Contact Laskin Balma Attorneys at Law in Sacramento California today.