Car Accident Settlement: Steps to Ensure You Get Fair Compensation
Are you looking to maximize your car accident settlement? Find tips and legal strategies to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Click to learn more!
Every year, there are millions of road accidents, with tens of thousands of them being fatal.
Everyone should work to be responsible on the road to help keep themselves and others safe. Unfortunately, accidents are never 100% avoidable, and you may find yourself in one at some point. What you do after can have a huge impact on how things play out.
In this guide, we’ll go over what you should do to ensure you get fair compensation in a car accident settlement. Keep reading for more.
Check for Injuries
The first thing you want to do immediately after an accident is check for any injuries. Start by checking over yourself, and then any others in your car. You can then check on anyone else who was involved in the accident.
People can get hurt in a car accident and it may not be immediately obvious. People can also experience shock which may prevent them from being aware of their own injuries. Even if you don’t notice any major injuries, you should contact the emergency services.
A medical professional should examine everyone involved, even if they feel fine. Take note of any injuries, no matter how small. This can serve as evidence that you may later rely on.
You should keep all medical bills and invoices related to the accident. These will be vital if you want to receive fair compensation in a personal injury claim.
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When it comes to your legal claim, evidence is invaluable. Because of this, you should take note of all of the important details about the accident. This includes:
- Where it happened
- Who was involved
- How it occurred
- Injuries sustained
- Damage to vehicles
After contacting the emergency services the police should arrive on the scene. They will take down such information in their report, but it’s also a good idea to document what you can yourself.
Images of the scene can be especially useful. Take pictures and videos of the damage to both vehicles so you have them ready. Dash cam footage can be especially useful here.
If there were any witnesses, get their contact information. They may be able to testify in court if needed. All of this evidence will help you build a stronger case and give you a better chance of getting the compensation you deserve.
Avoid Speaking to the Insurance Company
If you’re involved in an accident and another driver was at fault, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit. Alternatively, you could reach a settlement with the other driver, though this may not be advisable.
Large insurance companies have plenty of experience dealing with auto accidents. They know how the settlement and negotiation processes go. While they have certain responsibilities, they will ultimately try to pay out as little as possible.
Insurance companies have a range of strategies they use to protect their own profits. This can result in you not receiving the accident compensation you should.
Giving a statement to the insurance company may not be in your best interest. They’ll likely take what you’ve said to them and see how they can use it to their own advantage. Before discussing the accident with your insurance company, you’ll want to seek help from an experienced professional.
Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
A personal injury lawyer can provide expert legal advice and help you build your case. They have the knowledge and skills to guide you through the process and help you come out the other side in the best position.
They can protect your rights, and navigate the complexities of your lawsuit efficiently. Personal injury cases are often very complicated, so trying to deal with one on your own is a bad idea.
You ideally want to find a lawyer who has plenty of experience with relevant cases. Personal injury law is quite diverse, so it’s best to work with an attorney who specializes in vehicle accidents.
Ask about their previous work; the more experience they have with cases like yours, the better. They’ll have a better idea of the kind of outcome you should get from the case and will be able to avoid pitfalls and other mistakes that an inexperienced lawyer might fall into.
Beyond your legal case, they can also help you deal with your insurance company. An insurance provider will always take things more seriously when a lawyer is involved. Your attorney will know what you’re legally entitled to, so they can help ensure your insurance settlement is fair.
Depending on your insurance company and the circumstances of your case, they might not be willing to make a fair settlement. In such a case, your lawyer can help you take them to court.
Don’t Settle for the First Offer
Regardless of whether you have a lawyer or not, your insurance company will likely try to lowball you at the start. With that being said, the settlement offer is likely to be worse if you don’t have a lawyer.
Don’t feel pressured to accept this first offer. They do this hoping you will choose to settle as it’s the easiest option. However, if you’re entitled to more, it will likely be worth the effort of pursuing a better settlement.
Your attorney can assess your case by looking at the full scope of damages. From this, they’ll be able to negotiate a more suitable settlement. It should reflect your physical pain and suffering, damage to your vehicle, lost wages, and future medical needs.
Getting Fair Compensation From Your Car Accident Settlement
A car accident settlement can vary based on a range of factors, so it’s important to take the right approach. Ensuring you work with an experienced lawyer is one of the most important things to do. They can help you build a case and deal with your insurance company to make sure you get fair compensation.
At Boettcher, Devinney, Ingle & Wicker, we have the skills and expertise to help you get the compensation you deserve. We have over 65 years of combined experience and you can reach out to us 24/7.
Contact us today to find out how we can help you with your car accident case.
