Maximizing Your Settlement - Tips From a Car Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you deserve to receive compensation. This may include medical costs, lost wages, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

Insurance companies know that your injury will likely affect you for years to come. They also know that you don’t want to accept a lowball offer.

Gather Strong Evidence

The best way to get the most out of your settlement is to be proactive rather than reactive. Insurance companies are notoriously unresponsive, and a little sleuthing on your part can go a long way. Getting your wits about the insurers can yield results in the form of a hefty settlement check and an enhanced quality of life. The most important component of this equation is a well-informed and assertive plaintiff. Fortunately, you can count on an experienced car accident lawyer to guide the ship.

Calculate All Damages

When you’re pursuing damages for an accident, you will want to calculate all the possible damages. This will help you make a fair settlement demand.

Your damages will include your economic losses (medical bills, property damage, and lost income). They also include non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.

General damages are hard to quantify, but they can include loss of companionship, loss of enjoyment, and inconvenience. You may be able to increase your estimated value by considering punitive damages, which are awarded for egregious behavior.

Special damages are easier to quantify because they are based on evidence such as medical bills and receipts. Insurance adjusters use a multiplier to calculate the value of these damages. Typically, the more severe and permanent the injuries are, the higher the multiplier will be.

Don’t Talk to the Insurance Company

While it is normal for an insurance company to contact you in the days following an accident, they are not on your side. Their goal is to minimize your settlement so that they can save money.

They also want to uncover evidence that you did not have a pre-existing condition, that your injuries were minor or that the accident was not your fault. These tactics are designed to reduce the value of your claim and will be used against you in court if necessary.

To maximize your settlement, resist the urge to talk to the insurance company on the phone or in person until you have your attorney present. They can take notes on your conversations with the insurance adjuster and prepare a written transcript of the discussion. Then your lawyer can use this information to negotiate a fair settlement for you.

Hire a Lawyer

If you have suffered injuries from a car accident, it is essential to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer. This is because a skilled attorney can fight for you and maximize your settlement amount.

A lawyer can also guide you through the legal process. This means that they can explain the statute of limitations and other important details related to your case.

They can help you meet deadlines and follow procedures to ensure that your claim goes smoothly.

Ultimately, your settlement is meant to cover medical bills, repairs, and lost wages. It can also include money for general damages, such as pain and suffering.

To help your attorney assess the strength of your case, gather all relevant evidence as soon as possible after the accident. This includes photos of the accident scene, immediate injuries, and any witnesses.