Q: Can I start handling my claim myself and then hand it off to an attorney if I don't like how its going?

A:

It has been my experience that adjusters tend to dig their heels in once they have made an unrepresented person an offer on their case.  Many times this offer will be much lower than an offer an attorney would get.  However, it then becomes very difficult for a lawyer to get an adjuster to move on that original offer. Adjusters simply do not want to give the impression that they are cowering to lawyers.

Furthermore, it really is possible to say or do something in your negotations with the adjuster that will jeopardize or compromise your claim.  

There are a couple more things you should consider if contemplating this.  First, the adjuster you will be dealing with will have significantly more knowledge than you will on the law relating to your claim.  The adjuster will not hesitate to use their superior knowledge to their favor.  Does that sound like a fair negotiation to you?

Secondly, it is a documented fact that claims handled by attorneys gross more than claims handled by claimants alone.  Of course, it must be acknowledged that you will have to pay the attorney to handle your case.  Thus, if you handle your claim by yourself you will get to keep the entire settlement without giving a portion to an attorney.  However, there several potential problems with this thinking, most notably that you don't know what your claim is worth so you have no idea if you are being offered a fair amount; and that attorneys net more for claims than individuals acting on their own. 

Bottom line: if you are thinking about hiring an attorney you are MUCH better off doing it at the beginning of your case as opposed to waiting to see what the insurance company will offer.