Working with a profit-minded insurance company to get a fair settlement for you is not an easy task. Most companies want to settle for as little as possible. After the traumatic experience of losing your property, wages, and fitness, you deserve fair compensation.
Once the settlement journey begins, you will need an effective strategy to ensure you get a good deal, so here are the steps you should follow.
1.Gather and preserve evidence
Start gathering evidence at the scene of the accident. If you have been injured and can’t collect the evidence yourself, hire a private investigator to collect the evidence. Preserve the eyewitnesses’ statements, photos taken at the scene, and the police reports.
As the claimant, you must present the burden of proof in the case. This means having adequate evidence to prove your claim before the jury. With time, witnesses may disappear, and memories fade. Here are some important tips for retaining the proof.
Take photos of the accident scene, the defected vehicle, visible injuries, and the defendant’s vehicle
If you’re unfamiliar with the accident location, take important location information such as the street number and any landmarks you see around
Record eyewitnesses statements
Look out for video surveillance cameras at the scene and request for a copy of the accident footage
2. Get medical attention
One of the determinants of a settlement amount is the treatment received after the accident. If you obtained any injuries, seek proper medical attention, including imaging, tests, treatment, and therapy. The treatment administered is compelling evidence of your suffering. If you fail your doctor’s appointment, the defense will use this data to destroy your case.
3. Have a compensation amount in mind
Value your claim and get a range of acceptable compensation. Do not assume that there are damages that should not be included. There are losses you may suffer and not realize their impact at the moment. You can include emotional damages and loss of regular use of body parts in your claim.
4. Hire an attorney
If you obtained severe injuries in the accident, you should get an attorney to build your case and represent you. You cannot trust a profit-minded insurance firm to get you a fair settlement in the event of an accident. Click here to find out how a qualified personal injury attorney can guide you on how to maximize your compensation. The lawyer you hire could make or break your case. Therefore, be vigilant on who you’re hiring. Go for a lawyer with expertise and experience in compensation cases. A general practitioner could handle your case, but an injury attorney is more acquainted with the value of injury compensation. Also, it is crucial to find out how much of the lawyer’s time will be dedicated to your case.
5. Decline low offers
When you are having pending medical bills and vehicle repairs waiting, you may be tempted to settle as fast as possible. However, taking the first offer will prevent you from maximizing your settlement. Show the other side that you are willing to go far to get what you deserve. It is important to get an expert opinion on whether to decline or accept the offer.
6. Explain why you reject the offers
To maximize the settlement offer, you have to convince the defendant that you have a strong case. When you deny an offer, respond with documentation that backs up your assertions, explaining why the deal is unacceptable. This will show them that you are committed to getting fair compensation. An attorney can help you prepare the documentation.
7.Avoid social media
The phrase that states ‘everything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law’ applies to what you post in social media. The internet has ruined many accident settlement cases. Photos and comments posted on social media can be found by anyone and used against you in your case. Defense attorneys will vigorously search for any information to destroy your case. There are testimonies where defense attorneys used photographs picked from the internet that showed the plaintiff was exaggerating their injuries or made a complete recovery. So, it is advisable to stay away from social media until the case is closed.
The defendants start to build their case immediately after the car crash. For instance, employees are requested to file an incident report that will look for other causes of the accident, such as whether the claimant was intoxicated. It would help if you never admit fault; least the statements will be used against you in court. To ensure you get the best deal, hire an injury attorney who will represent you and get you a suitable deal.
