How to Maximize a Personal Injury Settlement

When you are injured in a car accident, slip or fall, or any other event due to negligence, you may be shaken up, confused, and worried about how you will pay for any bills or missed work. You may decide to pursue a personal injury claim.

It’s your right to do everything possible to be compensated for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You should take everything into consideration to get the maximum in your personal injury settlement.

How to Maximize a Personal Injury Settlement

What you do after your accident can make a difference to your lawsuit and your settlement. Understanding the parts of the case that are in your control can help you get the compensation you deserve. Here are ten things you can do to maximize your personal injury settlement.

Preserve the Evidence from Your Accident

When you are in an accident, documenting everything may not be top of mind. But, if you can, it’s best to try and take pictures of damages to your car and your injuries. It’s also crucial to take down contact information from any witnesses at the scene and request a copy of the police report as soon as possible.

This evidence can be used to demonstrate the severity of damage to your car and yourself. Having this evidence can make a difference in any settlement offers you may receive or convince the jury that you deserve more compensation.

Get Medical Treatment Immediately After Your Accident

Get medical treatment immediately after your accident. First, if you do not, it may seem as if your injuries were not that bad. Secondly, you will need documentation of the physical harm you suffered and the treatment you received. In addition, follow your treatment plan to the letter. If you do not, then it can be argued that you didn’t really need treatment at all.

Keep records of your diagnosis, treatment plan, and all bills. Treatment may include physical therapy or counseling sessions to deal with the stress of the accident and your injuries. This documentation lets the insurance company know you are serious, and they are more likely to offer an amount that will cover all your bills.

Even if you think you don’t need to see a doctor or go to the emergency room at the scene of the accident, you should do so. In Florida, you have fourteen days to see a doctor after an accident, or your insurance will probably deny your claim.

Know When to Engage an Attorney

While there is no deadline for hiring a personal injury attorney, you should hire one as soon as possible. You do not want to be without representation when dealing with insurance companies or in court. You can be sure the insurance company will have an attorney representing them, you should also.

Many attorneys will give you a free case evaluation and often work on a contingency basis, so it’s worth at least a phone call. Hiring a personal injury attorney can help you maximize your personal injury settlement.

Don’t Wait Too Long to File a Lawsuit

While the legal proceedings may take a while, there are time limits and deadlines for filing a personal injury lawsuit. This is another reason you should speak with and hire an attorney as soon as possible after your accident. Once your case is filed, the process of gathering evidence can start. And since evidence can be lost, or witnesses may forget what they saw, quickly filing a suit will ensure you have the best evidence and testimony for your case. It also lets the other side know you are serious.

Build Your Case

Carefully building a legal case is one way you can maximize your settlement. Even if the case doesn’t make it to trial. Preparations such as serving discovery demands, requesting records, conducting a deposition, and calling in experts are the steps an experienced attorney will take. Without a strong case, you may be offered a lower settlement amount.

Have a Specific Goal Amount in Mind

Keep in mind everything you’ve gone through and make sure you fully value your claim. You may not realize all the damages you are entitled to claim. There are a number of types of damages that you can suffer from and claim in a personal injury suit.

For instance, you may be entitled to compensation for emotional trauma, loss of intimacy, inability to do things such as picking up your children, and the loss of mobility or other bodily functions. Compensation for these types of damages would be in addition to out-of-pocket expenses and should be a part of the specific goal amount you have in mind.

Don’t Be Too Eager to Accept Your First Offer

Sometimes a personal injury claim can drag on for months or years. When this happens, you may feel the need to get your compensation quickly and want to accept the first offer. Don’t. Taking the first offer given may cause you to accept less than you need. The insurance company will try to get you to settle for less. You need to stand strong and let them know you will go the full distance to get the best compensation. You may need to reject the first few offers.

Be Sure to Explain Why the Offer Is Inadequate

Explaining why the offer is inadequate lets the other side know that you have a strong case. Otherwise, it may be close to impossible to maximize your settlement. If a low settlement is offered, you or your attorney should detail why it is not acceptable and provide documentation to support the strength of your claim.

Wait for a Response

It’s hard to wait, sometimes, but don’t get impatient. It’s entirely possible the other party or insurance company will drag their feet, hoping you will get annoyed or impatient and agree to their offer. Give them plenty of time. Your attorney will let you know what to expect.

Bonus: Get the Insurance Company to Set Up a High Reserve Account

The insurance company will set up a reserve account to use to pay your settlement. They do this as soon as you file your claim. The insurance adjuster can update the amount in this account when they get more facts about your case, so be sure to update them when you see your doctor or lose wages, so there will be more in the account for your claim.

Personal Injury Attorney in Pompano Beach, FL

If you are thinking about filing a personal injury case, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney in Pompano Beach, FL, for proper legal guidance. This is the best way to maximize your personal injury claim and get the compensation you deserve.