How a Skilled Personal Injury Attorney Can Maximize Your Car Accident Settlement
Getting the most out of your car accident settlement starts with accurately assessing all damages. This includes your short- and long-term medical costs, loss of income, and property damage.
An experienced attorney can identify all potentially liable parties and pursue compensation from them on your behalf. This increases the likelihood of a fair settlement offer.
Negotiate on Your Behalf
In the case of an accident that results in severe injuries, medical bills are often high, and future treatment costs must be factored in. A personal injury attorney can present these facts to the insurance company solidly and convincingly, which will likely result in a higher settlement offer.
They also assemble evidence such as pay stubs, employment records, and expert financial opinions to prove economic damages like lost income. They can also help a victim establish emotional damage by encouraging them to keep a diary that documents their pain, suffering, and mental anguish.
Skilled attorneys are familiar with the tactics insurance companies use to minimize compensation, and they can handle all the details and deadlines of a claim so victims can focus on getting well.
Identify All Potentially Liable Parties
The strength of your case will determine how much money you receive as a settlement. Thus, gathering as much evidence as you can is crucial. This includes preserving medical records about your injuries, taking pictures of the accident location, and obtaining any witnesses’ names and contact details.
Insurance companies will settle your car accident claim quickly and cheaply. Choosing the best injury attorney will ensure fair compensation by identifying all potentially liable parties.
For example, a drunk driver who runs a red light may be the most apparent liable party. However, other parties might also be at fault, such as the manufacturer of a defective car part or the bar that gave the driver alcohol. By pursuing compensation from these parties, your settlement amount will increase.
Document Your Damages
You must have as much evidence of your damages as possible. Witness accounts, medical data, and pictures from the accident scene can all be included in this. A thorough understanding of your damages will help your attorney maximize your settlement amount.
It’s also a good idea to keep all receipts and bills related to your injuries, even those from out-of-pocket expenses and items purchased through your health savings account. If applicable, our attorneys can also obtain the black box information from your vehicle to help determine how the accident occurred.
General losses or non-economic damages, such as suffering, are more complicated to value in dollars. We can use physician statements to determine your prognosis and expected future medical care to accurately estimate this portion of your damages.
Send a Demand Letter
A practical car accident demand letter details your version of the events leading up to and following the crash, lists all costs incurred, and states the monetary value you would settle for. Your attorney will use medical records to illustrate your treatment, ensuring your demand includes detailed information on your injuries and their expected impact on your life.
Staying calm when writing your demand letter and avoiding using emotional language or arguing over fault is essential. They won’t take you seriously if you criticize insurance companies or make baseless claims. Your lawyer will help you focus on the facts of your case. It will also be helpful to list your damages, including noneconomic ones like pain and suffering, in a table format.
Represent You in Court
You have a right to fair compensation for your losses in terms of money, property damage, and injuries. Unfortunately, insurance companies often try to settle your claim for a fraction of what you’re owed. However, you can take steps to ensure that you receive the maximum settlement possible.
An attorney can look into your accident and compile all pertinent information to create a compelling case. This includes witness accounts, accident reports, photographs, and medical records. They will meticulously compile this evidence to strengthen your argument and increase the value of your settlement.
If the insurance company is unresponsive, your lawyer can file a lawsuit to obtain the money you are owed. This can be costly, but your lawyer will exhaust every avenue to get you a fair settlement.
