If you have ever been unfortunate enough to get into a car accident, then you know how messy and complicated the whole matter can be. You can be driving safely in your lane and still have some reckless driver crash into you, injuring your body as well as your car. Needless to say, you should file a claim for compensation in such cases, but unfortunately, things don’t always go as smoothly as you’d hope. Insurance companies get involved and suddenly, you find yourself presented with a compensation amount that wouldn’t even cover your medical bills. So, how exactly can you get the full compensation that would cover all your damages?
Collect Evidence
If you want to get the best settlement possible for your troubles, then you need to gather as much evidence as you can to prove that the other driver was at fault. This starts at the crash scene. Take photographs and videos of everything ––where the cars lay, your injuries, and the entire scene. You also need to get a hold of any witnesses and their contact information because their testimony might prove vital for your claim if the case goes to trial. You need to even acquire the preliminary police report from the scene of the accident because it contains the officers’ primary analysis, which also might be quite beneficial.
Hire a Car Accident Attorney
This is arguably the most important thing that you can do to get full compensation. Some claimants try to go about their case by themselves; they often get destroyed by insurance companies and their lawyers and end up with very little money, if any. As you can see on this homepage, when you hire a qualified car accident attorney in Phenix City, Los Angeles, Manhattan, or any other big city, they immediately get to work so you can have the best settlement deal possible. They know the ins and outs of such cases, and they have the experience and resources needed to ensure that you get the best legal representation.
Their insight proves quite valuable after years of dealing with car accident cases and they will be able to properly evaluate your case. This means they can, without bias, tell you if this is a case you can win if it goes to trial or not. They will also handle settlement negotiations on your behalf and advise you whether or not you should accept the deal presented by the insurance company, because you often get one that is rarely fair. If they advise against taking it, those experienced car accident attorneys will represent you in court and get you the best deal possible.
Never Settle for the First Deal
Speaking of deals and negotiations, you should never settle for the first offer you get from the insurance company. A lot of claimants want this entire situation to resolve quickly, so they often settle for whatever settlement they’re given, which is a big mistake. If you want to get full compensation after a car accident, then you need to be patient. Listen to what your attorneys have to say. If the other side was truly at fault and you suffered because of it, your lawyer would advise against accepting that settlement because they know they can do better. You just need to have a little faith in them.
Be Wary of Insurance Companies
While insurance companies aren’t exactly evil, they are for-profit businesses, which means they want to minimize any settlement payments. So, they end up pulling stunts to delay the inevitable or trick you into admitting fault, which can destroy your entire claim. This is why you have to be extremely careful with how you approach the case if you want to get full compensation. Never apologize to the other driver, because that is basically admitting fault and don’t even speak to them unless it’s to exchange insurance information. Another mistake a lot of people fall into is posting on social media about the case, which can cost you a lot. The other side gets wind of it and finds something to use against you. Last but not least, as soon as you hire a car accident attorney, don’t speak with the insurance company without your lawyer’s knowledge. The former might ask you to sign off on something and you should never do it before consulting with your counsel.
Yes, car accident settlements are complicated and they can drag on, but you have to keep at it. If you suffer an accident because another driver was negligent, you are entitled to receive fair compensation for your troubles and expenses. You just need to be patient and thorough with how you proceed. Most importantly, enlist the help of qualified attorneys who can help you get a great settlement offer.