6 Things You Can Do To Get The Best Personal Injury Claim Settlement Possible After Being In A Car Accident
If you've been hurt in a car accident, you will have to pay medical bills in addition to the vehicle repairs. You may even need to buy a brand new car if the accident damage is extensive. In order to get as much financial help as possible in the form of a settlement, you need to have a strategy. Keep reading to learn 6 things you can do to help devise a strategy to negotiate the best possible claim settlement amount after you've been involved in an auto accident.
1. Get an idea as to how much you'd like to receive for a settlement.
Start by compiling all your medical bills and your vehicle repair costs to get an idea of what your claim is worth. Start with a monetary range, because not all of your expenses may be realized at this time. After you've determined a range, think about what the minimum settlement amount that you would accept. Keep in mind that this figure is for your own information. Don't give this dollar amount to the insurance adjuster.
When you have a bottom figure in mind, it will help you when the settlement discussions start. You won't have to worry about making a snap decision if the insurance adjuster catches you off guard with a take-it-or-leave-it offer when speaking on the telephone. This number isn't set in stone. If facts come out that make your claim weaker, then it's okay to lower the minimum amount you'll accept. On the other hand, if new information comes out that makes your claim stronger, you can increase your minimum amount.
2. Never accept the first offer.
It's common practice for an insurance adjuster to offer a very low settlement amount during the first round of negotiations. This is a tactic they use to see if you have any idea regarding the value of your claim, and to see if you are just out to get some monetary payment and are willing to take anything.
3. Ask the adjuster to justify his or her reasons for the low offer.
After receiving a very low settlement offer, ask the adjuster for the specific reasons why his or her offer is so low. Take notes on these reasons, or ask for them in writing. Then you can write a brief letter to respond to each of these reasons. Give the adjuster a few days to read and think about your letter. He or she will then contact you with a revised settlement offer.
4. Bring attention to the emotional aspects that support your claim.
As you go through the settlement negotiations, emphasize the emotional points that are in your favor. For example, if you've sent the insurance adjuster a devastating photo of a severe injury or severely smashed up car, bring it up in the discussions. If a bottle of beer was found in the other driver's vehicle, talk about the possibility of alcohol use while driving. If your injuries have caused others to suffer, like you are unable to care for your child or an aging parent, bring it up during negotiations. It's also the perfect time to discuss similar accidents that had the types of outcome and settlement amount you are asking for. These are all powerful tactics that help get insurance companies to settle accident claims quickly and fairly.
5. Always wait for a response before changing your requested settlement amount.
In order to practice good bargaining, you should never reduce your demand more than once between offers from the insurance adjuster. Also, never reduce your demand twice without first receiving an increased offer. With every low offer, ask for the reasons why the adjuster is still offering such a low dollar amount. Then go over each of these reasons and write another letter. The adjuster will probably argue your response to his or her reasons. But then the adjuster will either provide you with a more reasonable offer, or you'll realize a reasonable offer will never come and you can try to pressure the insurance company for a higher settlement amount.
6. Know when it's time to hire an attorney.
If the negations seem to be going nowhere, or you feel like you are losing the battle with the insurance company, consider hiring an auto accident lawyer. These attorneys are specially trained to deal with automobile accidents and have a lot of experience dealing with insurance companies for fair settlements.
When a settlement amount is finally agreed upon, confirm the figure in a letter to the insurance adjuster. The letter doesn't have to be anything extravagant. Just make it short and sweet. If you have any questions about auto accident claims and/or negotiating a settlement amount, call your local auto accident lawyer. He or she will be happy to help you. Contact a firm like J D'Agostino & Associates, P.C. to get started.
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