Accidents don’t just happen; they’re caused, often by someone else’s careless or reckless behavior. When you are injured, your first priority should be getting better. Unfortunately, most people don’t have the luxury of just focusing on their health. Medical bills start rolling in, and regular expenses continue to mount. You may be unable to work or to take care of your family, and you might even need extra help as you recover.

If the accident that caused your injury wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation from the other party’s insurance company. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the insurance company isn’t on your side, no matter how nice or helpful they may seem. Their goal is to pay out as little in claims as possible.

What often happens after an injury accident is that the insurance company will contact the victim, offering a settlement to resolve any possible claim. It may sound like a lot of money, and it’s being offered just when it’s needed most. But it comes at a price: if it turns out the settlement wasn’t enough, you can’t come back and ask for more later, even if it turns out your injury was much worse than it seemed at first.

That’s why you should never agree to a settlement or even talk to the insurance company without an experienced Montana personal injury lawyer. Your attorney is the only person whose job it is to look out for your interests at a time when you are especially vulnerable. To protect your interests and your future, contact Kris McLean Law Firm to schedule a free consultation.

Personal Injury Cases We Handle

The personal injury lawyers at Kris McLean Law Firm have decades of litigation experience, including in personal injury cases. We represent injury victims in the Missoula area and throughout Montana in a wide range of injury claims, including:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Rideshare accidents (Uber/Lyft)
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Defective products
• Wrongful death
• Civil rights matters

We understand how difficult the aftermath of a serious injury can be. We take the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and help you understand your legal options. If you have a viable legal claim, we will explain the legal process and advocate for you every step of the way.

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Helps

The Insurance Research Council (IRC) performed a study that indicated that injury victims who have legal representation receive settlements that are, on average, about 3.5 times higher than settlements received by people without a lawyer.

There are a number of reasons for that remarkable difference. The first is that, as mentioned above, insurance companies tend to lead with “low ball” offers, hoping that injury victims won’t know what their case is worth or will be so desperate for funds that they accept even a poor offer.

Another reason injury victims with a lawyer get higher settlements is that experienced attorneys are better at valuing cases. They’re less likely to encourage a client to accept an offer that won’t meet their needs, and more likely to push back against an insurance company that makes a sub-par offer.

Insurers also understand that when an injury victim has an attorney, they are serious about their case. They may prefer to make a more favorable offer than risk going to trial, especially if the evidence against them is strong.

Why Work with Kris McLean Law Firm

At Kris McLean Law Firm, we approach each personal injury case with the goal of a swift and successful negotiated resolution. We know that you’ve already been through a lot and want to just be able to move forward with your life.

But we are also experienced litigators with plenty of courtroom hours under our belts. If it’s necessary to go to trial to get the best possible outcome for you, we won’t hesitate to do it, and our opponents know it. That willingness to try cases when needed is often what enables us to negotiate such favorable results for our clients.

Another thing that sets our firm apart is that we have deep roots in Montana. We have practiced in the local courts for decades, and we are known and respected in the legal community here. We believe that our reputation helps give our clients and their claims valuable credibility.