Useful Tips That Can Help Increase The Value of Your Personal Injury Settlement
After suffering a personal injury that was caused by someone else, you will certainly want to maximize your settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance adjusters. The settlement is about the medical treatment, medical bills, your ability to re-enter life after the injury, lost wages – and, depending on circumstances – your pain and suffering.
With the help of a personal injury lawyer, you can increase the settlement value of your personal injury case.
Read on to learn more.
Never Forsake Medical Attention
Now, the majority of the personal injury cases that stem from car accidents involve the injured people fretting over getting their cars repaired and not so much considering medical treatment. The underlying reason is that at the time of the accident, they might not even know the extent of their injuries as some injuries can appear insignificant at first – however – they are serious.
Also, cars are a necessity as they take people to work, so naturally, many people worry about being able to repair their vehicles as soon as possible so they don’t miss out on work.
See the Doctor Even if the Injuries Seem Minor
Here is the thing: if you want to get the most out of your personal injury settlement, you cannot forsake medical attention. As a matter of fact, make sure to seek medical attention immediately. Call an ambulance and go to the nearest hospital.
Similarly, it is incredibly important to document your injuries as it will reflect that the injuries were indeed caused by the accident itself. In case of a more serious injury, the at-fault party’s insurance company might go to court and ask for discovery, which is why you must be able to document your injuries and prove that they stem from the accident and have nothing to do with your previous medical history.
What Happens if You Neglect this Step?
If you neglect this crucial step, you will be subjected to serious questions as the defense will put the blame on you, stating that your injuries aren’t the direct result of the accident itself. Without medical documentation and records, it will be incredibly hard for you and your lawyer to prove your injuries to the jury.
Getting into an accident also requires you to call a personal injury lawyer, such as The Cottle Firm, Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyers, if you live in the city of Las Vegas. The lawyer will guide you about all of the necessary steps to take, including seeking medical attention and documenting your injuries. The lawyer will use this information to decide whether or not to take the case to trial.
Usually, serious life-changing injuries are taken to trial because they result in a million-dollar settlement. If your injuries are minor, then the lawyer will send a settlement opportunity letter to the at-fault party’s insurance company, where, after some negotiation, they will settle for a reasonable amount.
However, in order to make all of this happen and to maximize your settlement, you must go to the doctor and seek medical treatment at all costs.
Don’t Accept the First Settlement Offer
Another effective tip that can help you boost the value of your case is to never accept the first offer that is coming your way from the insurance company. You should know that insurance adjusters might act friendly and professional – but they will always make low initial offers in the hope that you will not consult a lawyer but accept their first offer without question.
Although it might look as if you have no other choice but to accept the first offer coming your way, you should know that you are absolutely under no obligation to accept the initial low offer. The reason why they make the low offer is because they simply don’t want to pay you the total amount of the value.
On that note, if you want to make the most of your personal injury case settlement, always discuss the offer with your lawyer first.
As a matter of fact, let your attorney negotiate with the insurance adjusters on your behalf, as the lawyer will ensure that you are not taken advantage of.
Maintain Records of Your Employment
You can get the most out of your personal injury settlement by maintaining your employment records, which can include the following aspects:
- Your employer’s statement about your wages
- The number of hours you worked
- The amount of wages you missed out on while getting medical treatment
- Copy of your pay stubs
Now, what maintaining these records will do for you is that they will help you recover the total amount that you lost or weren’t able to make due to your personal injuries. The records can also indicate your potential loss of future earnings, such as financial contributions to your bonus and retirement account.
Never Trust the Insurance Adjusters
We cannot stress enough the importance of being tactful when dealing with insurance adjusters. You should know that whatever you say or tell the insurance adjusters can be used against you to the point that they can find ways to not pay you anything at all.
One of the biggest mistakes that people make is trusting the people from the insurance company who call them. Those people are looking for the tiniest opportunities to reduce the benefits that you are entitled to.
It is in your best interest to let your lawyer deal with the insurance adjusters so that you don’t put your settlement at risk.
Calculate Potential Future Damages
Suppose you have sustained a life-changing injury, such as a brain injury. In that case, you will have to calculate the potential future damages regarding how your injury will affect your quality of life. These kinds of personal injury cases are usually taken to trial as there is loads of money involved, and the chances of reaching a fair settlement are low.
Nonetheless, even seemingly small injuries can have an enormous impact on your future years. In this case, your lawyer will include a detailed proof, such as your doctor’s statement, to assess the costs of expected future medical care as a way to get compensation in advance.