Although car insurance companies provide drivers with an important service, it’s in their best interest to pay a minimal amount, or avoid paying completely, for personal injuries and property damages due to a motor vehicle accident.
Trying to negotiate with insurance companies can prove stressful and fruitless, and the settlement they offer you can be unfair.
With an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side, you won’t have to go through the process of filing a lawsuit and seeking compensation on your own.
If you want to maximize your personal injury settlement, we recommend taking the following 5 steps:
1) Keep Accurate Records
If you’ve been involved in a car accident and you believe it was not your fault, it’s important to keep accurate records of the incident. Be sure to keep the police report, keep track of your medical treatment documentation, and any statements from potential witnesses.
Naturally, the insurance provider of the other driver will try and build a case against you. If they have proper documentation of the accident and you don’t, this could be very disadvantageous.
When you have a personal injury attorney working on your case with you, they will help to ensure you keep proper documentation. This will help tremendously during negotiations with the other driver’s insurance company.
2) Take Photos Of The Scene
Nowadays, everybody has a cell phone with a camera in their pocket. If you’ve been involved in a car accident, be sure to take photos of the scene, vehicles, driver’s licenses, and anything else you feel may be important immediately after it happens. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Having photos of the scene will help you, your car accident attorney, and the insurance providers obtain more information about the accident and may even help with deciding who was at fault. Photos are a great piece of evidence that can help with negotiations and can serve as a great visual aid for a judge and jury.
3) Don’t Be Quick To Accept The First Offer From The Insurance Adjuster
Insurance adjusters will often make you a low-ball offer initially hoping that you’ll take it so they can avoid paying you the actual value of your case. They know that if a car accident attorney is involved, the process will be more lengthy and they will probably end up paying out a larger settlement since attorneys are experienced in dealing with the games insurance companies play and are familiar with applicable law.
A personal injury attorney knows the tactics insurance companies use to dish out a smaller settlement, or even try to prove the accident was your fault when it was not. Always speak with an attorney and don’t settle for the initial offer.
4) Follow The Doctor’s Orders
If you’ve been involved in a car accident and have sought out medical treatment, it’s of utmost importance to follow the doctor’s orders until the treatments are completed. If you miss your doctor appointments, the insurance company will assume that you no longer needed medical attention and will cut your settlement amount short. Insurance companies are always looking for ways to minimize your injuries.
If there is any gap in your medical treatment following the accident, the insurance company may try to avoid paying for any medical expenses after the gap occurred. Be sure to follow through on the medical attention the doctor advises for you.
5) Keep A Detailed Record Of Your Injuries
As time goes on, and as you heal from injuries incurred during the accident, you may forget how bad you felt during the process, and what life events you had to miss as a result. That’s why it’s important to keep a journal of your pain and suffering so you can accurately portray it to the judge and jury if and when your case should reach that stage.
If you’re asking the insurance company for compensation for pain and suffering, being able to accurately and clearly explain the losses you suffered during your recovery time will help to strengthen your case.
Contact A Personal Injury Attorney
If you’ve been involved in a car accident and need help with your claim, don’t hesitate to contact The Law Offices of Michael A. Rabban at 818-272-8882.
