How to Get the Most Money From a Car Accident

Written by Jeremy D. Earle, JD

May 31, 2023

Hire a Car Accident Attorney

Nobody likes to think about being into a car accident, but it’s a risk that must be considered.

According to a recent Esurance research, almost 77 percent of drivers had been in at least one car accident. A motorist will submit an insurance claim for damage caused by an car collision once every 18 years on average. This indicates that today’s 16-year-old drivers may expect to be involved in at least one accident by the age of 34, and have a high possibility of being involved in three to four accidents over their lives.

BUT WHY DO CAR ACCIDENTS ARISE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

The following are some of the most typical reasons of these accidents:

Speeding, which is a factor in 31% of adolescent driver fatalities and the leading cause of traffic-related deaths across all age groups.

Alcohol-related deaths, which account for more than 10,000 deaths per year. Aggressive driving, which accounts for over half of all traffic accidents.

Weather conditions, which account for about 22% of all traffic accidents. Driver error, which accounts for 90 percent of all accidents.

You have rights if you are injured in an accident caused by someone else’s carelessness or recklessness. Learn about the legal choices that are open to you. A professional lawyer, for example, can assist you in recovering compensation for your costs as well as your agony and suffering.

However, the amount of money you might expect to get is determined by a number of circumstances. Here are a few things you can do to make sure you obtain the maximum money for your car accident injuries.

CONSULT A LAWYER

It should come as no surprise that this is our #1 suggestion — but it’s true!

 

Hiring a lawyer is the most guaranteed approach to recover money after a car accident. Personal injury attorneys have the experience and knowledge to ensure that victims of car accidents get all of the compensation they are entitled to. They spend their days haggling with insurance companies, sparring with defence attorneys, and looking into the whys and hows of car accidents. They’re committed to ensuring that their clients are fairly paid for the physical, emotional, and financial injure caused by a negligent motorist.

Do you believe you won’t be able to afford a lawyer for your car accident case? Reconsider your position! Clients are represented by car accident injury attorneys on a contingency fee basis. This implies that customers do not have to pay anything up ahead. Rather, attorneys are compensated as a proportion of the settlement funds. The more money you earn, the more money they get for themselves, which is a win-win situation for everyone.

The single wisest choice you can make after a car accident is to hire an expert car accident injury lawyer. They’ll arm you with the information and tools you need, walk you through the legal process, and put you on the path to a successful resolution. But how do they manage it?

COLLECT EVIDENCE

Lawyers need evidence to show culpability and damages in a car accident lawsuit. Even before you employ a lawyer, you may assist in gathering evidence. Basic information gathered at the site of the accident might be quite beneficial to your case.

Make certain you have the following information:

Name and contact information for the other driver

The other car(s) involved’s make, model, and licence plate number The name and policy number of the other driver’s insurance company

Photographs or video showing all damage from the car collision, including all cars, the road surface, and the surrounding area

Any witnesses to the accident’s names and contact information

Any police officers that react to the accident, including their names and badge numbers

Even after you leave the accident site, you may aid establish your case by retaining any papers and data related to your car accident, such as:

Medical bills and reports Insurance declarations

 

The cost of your car’s repairs

A copy of the accident’s police report

All injury-related costs, such as the cost of medicine, mobility aids, or accessible home upgrades, should be documented with invoices and receipts.

Your employer’s records concerning any insurance coverage, missing work, and your pay rate

There isn’t such a thing as “too much proof.” The information you collect at the site of an car accident, as well as in the days, weeks, and months after the accident, all helps your attorney enhance your case.

SEEK MEDICAL HELP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Another method you may assist your attorney receive the maximum money from your car accident is to seek a medical checkup as soon as possible after the accident, regardless of the circumstances.

Because they don’t “feel injured,” many individuals reject medical assistance at the site of an car collision. Make sure you’re not one of them! Just because you’re feeling OK doesn’t imply you’re really “fine.” Many deadly or critically life-altering car accident injuries may not show symptoms right away, which may surprise you.

A doctor, on the other hand, can detect these injuries and begin treating them right away, perhaps saving your life. Allow an EMT to examine you at the scene of the accident, travel in an ambulance if the EMT suggests it, and visit your usual doctor the following day for a comprehensive and thorough assessment.

Getting immediate medical attention is vital not just for your health, but it also helps you and your lawyer recover the maximum money possible from the accident. You establish medical documents that reveal the clear link between the accident and your injuries if you seek care promptly after an accident. These medical documents may be used to show your injuries and the amount of money you spent to have them treated.

CHECK YOUR COVERAGE AND REPORT THE ACCIDENT

In most places, it is the law for drivers involved in car accidents to stay at the site and share information. Furthermore, most jurisdictions require drivers to report an accident to local authorities within a short amount of time, particularly if someone was hurt or killed in the collision. Stay stationary after an car collision for the sake of everyone involved until first responders arrive to administer assistance and take a report.

 

You may also need to notify your car insurance provider about the collision. Most insurance plans require you to contact your provider within a certain length of time after a covered accident or other accident. If you don’t, your claim may be rejected outright by the insurance provider. For further information, check your policy or speak with a lawyer.

(One thing to remember: do not say anything over the phone with an insurance company representative that may be misconstrued as assumption of culpability for the car accident, like “I should have seen him coming” or “He came out of nowhere.”) Just stick to the facts.)

PLEASE DON’T POST ABOUT YOUR ACCIDENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

Do you want to share memes with your social media friends? Go ahead and do it. Do you want to share photos of your cat? Please, go ahead and knock yourself out! But whatever you do, don’t start tweeting about your car accident or blogging about how much fun you’re having in the days, weeks, or months after your injury.

The unpleasant reality is that insurance companies and defence lawyers will hunt for any excuse not to pay you what you are owed. Their ace in the hole may be social media postings.

“Oh look,” they’ll remark, “she went camping after the accident, therefore her back must be OK!” Oh, and here’s a photo of her smiling in a rowboat from Instagram. “Does it seem to you to be an injured accident victim?”

You get my drift. If you want to obtain the most money out of your car accident, stay away from social media and keep in mind the old adage that “everything you say can and will be used against you.”

Do you want to get the maximum money possible from your car accident case? Don’t accept anything less than what you deserve. It’s almost always a tragedy waiting to happen when victims reject legal representation and deal with insurance companies on their own.

You may not know what you’re due or how to get the most out of your settlement, but it’s our duty to figure it out for you!

Insurance companies and defence attorneys will go to great lengths to prevent paying car accident victims the compensation they are entitled to. One common technique is to contact accident victims as soon as possible after the event, usually within 48 hours, and offer a rapid payout to “put things right.” Don’t be fooled by that ruse. This figure is always pitifully low, and accepting it eliminates your choices for subsequently seeking more.

Negotiating with the motorist who struck you one-on-one is the same. Many irresponsible drivers will wish to take insurance and attorneys out of the equation entirely. Of course, they want to avoid repercussions, records, or higher insurance prices. However, do not consider this alternative if the other motorist gives you money or claims to know someone who can

 

restore your car for free. When you need to pay medical costs for car accident injuries that don’t show up for a long time, you might be left empty-handed.

Bottom line: Negotiating on your behalf should be left to an experienced lawyer.

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE THAT PAYS OFF.

The overwhelming majority of personal injury claims involving car accidents are settled outside of court. A fair and reasonable settlement, on the other hand, might take a long time to create. Your lawyer will need to put in a lot of effort to develop your case and create a picture of how the accident has affected your life. They will participate in discussions and, if required, prepare to take a case to trial. All of this effort and time is an investment in the value of your car accident claim, and if you’re patient enough, it might pay off handsomely. Everyone involved must have a clear and complete understanding of how much money a customer need and deserves.

In summary, obtaining a fair settlement or a favourable jury decision takes time. Lawyers for car accident plaintiffs typically go through many rounds of negotiations before reaching a settlement. The best settlement offers are often made after the parties have prepared to go to trial, or even after the trial has started.

Patience is a valuable asset. When dealing with insurance claims, it might be difficult to “hurry up and wait,” but if you see it through to the finish, the effort your lawyer undertakes on your behalf can pay off handsomely.

Remember that, at the end of the day, you are the one in charge of your claim. Only you can decide whether to accept a settlement or reject it and go to trial. The goal of a lawyer is to advise you on the best course of action, but the ultimate choice is always yours.

Don’t accept anything less than what you deserve.

If you were injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you are not only entitled to aid, but you also deserve it. To learn more about your options, contact an expert car accident injury attorney now.

 

How to Respond to a Low Settlement Offer

One of the most challenging components of a personal injury claim is dealing with the insurance company. Even if you successfully demonstrate someone else’s blame for your accident and injuries, you may have to deal with a lowball settlement offer or other bad faith tactics from an insurance company to get a fair result. To increase your chances of success in a personal injury claim, learn how to react effectively to a low settlement offer.

CONTINUE TO BE COURTEOUS.

When talking with an insurance claims adjuster, remain kind and professional, even if you suspect he or she is attempting to take advantage of you or is using bad faith techniques.

Getting angry and shouting at the adjuster will not assist your case and may jeopardize your chance of getting proper compensation.

Your rage might make you seem untrustworthy as a witness, putting you at a disadvantage during settlement discussions. Instead, try to stay calm and courteous. You may hire a personal injury lawyer to communicate with insurance companies on your behalf if you choose.

MAKE INQUIRIES

Ask inquiries in response to a poor settlement offer. Learn why the insurance claims adjuster made the decisions he or she did. Ask the claims adjuster specific questions about where the offer originated by calling or emailing them. If the insurance adjuster refuses your claim, he or she is required by law to provide a reason.

The adjuster’s replies might help you react with a thoughtful and well-informed counteroffer. Suppose the adjuster calculated your losses based on inadequate injury paperwork, for example. In that case, you may be able to raise the offer by providing updated medical expenditures or evidence of missed income.

GIVE THE FACTS.

Everything should be documented. Evidence of your injuries, medical expenditures, lost earnings, and other losses may be used to prove the worth of your claim. The more proof you gather, the more solid your claim for damages will be.

The insurance company will find it more difficult to argue for a smaller settlement since you will have the papers to back up the amount you feel is fair and reasonable to compensate your losses. Presenting the facts, as well as a paper trail, may compel the insurance claims adjuster to make a greater settlement offer.

WRITE A RESPONSE

 

Respond in writing rather than over the phone if you are offered a low settlement. All correspondence between you and the insurance company is documented in writing. If your case goes to trial, you may need to utilize these papers later. Explain where and why you disagree with the claims adjuster’s assessment, using documentation such as invoices or pay stubs. Include a counteroffer in writing for a fair sum you feel your case is worth.

DON’T BE FOOLED BY COMMON INSURANCE TRICKS.

Do not be pushed into accepting a lowball offer by an insurance provider. There is no legal obligation for you to accept the first, second, or any other settlement offer. You are not obligated to accept unless you are satisfied that the insurance company provides a reasonable amount.

Excessively prolonging your claim, refusing benefits without explanation, and giving an unreasonably low settlement are all examples of bad-faith insurance techniques to be aware of. Accept no offer until an attorney has evaluated your case, even if an adjuster claims it is the highest or last offer.

An adjuster may also attempt to persuade you to accept a low settlement sum by using his or her settlement power. The adjuster might claim that he or she is only authorized to provide the amount specified – that’s it. This is a popular bargaining strategy that you should avoid.

Counter the offer with a written letter stating why the settlement is unacceptable to you. Engage the services of an attorney to assist you in bolstering your arguments and gathering further proof to support the magnitude of your damages. An attorney can represent you in talks with a claims adjuster for the greatest possible compensation.

WHY DID I GET A SUBPAR SETTLEMENT OFFER?

First, let’s discuss why your settlement offer was so low.

The adjuster may not have all of the relevant information, such as medical bills and records of additional losses, which might explain why the settlement offer is low.

Ensure that the adjuster has everything they need to investigate your accident.

If you find out that your offer was based on inaccurate information, provide your adjuster with the necessary facts and urge them to re-evaluate the claim.

Apart from that, there are a few more reasons why you could have gotten a poor settlement offer.

Perhaps your car was not much damaged, you had inexplicable gaps in medical care, or you had pre-existing injuries to the parts of your body that were hurt in the accident.

Because of all of these circumstances, your adjuster may make a lowball offer.

HOW TO REACT TO A LOW-BUDGET SETTLEMENT OFFER

 

Some individuals believe they can deal with insurance companies independently, but working with an experienced attorney is usually a smart option, particularly if you are nursing injuries.

If your insurance company makes you a poor settlement offer, you and your attorney may pursue the following steps to secure the payout you deserve:

Maintain your composure and consider your offer.

It’s never a good idea to react emotionally after getting a poor offer, just as it’s never a good idea in any other situation.

Accepting it out of fear that that’s the best they can do is an even worse error.

Never, no matter how angry you are or how desperate you are for money, jeopardize the professional connection you have with the other parties.

If you attempt to renegotiate the offer, you might be sued for what you say and do.

Remember that the insurance company’s first offer will be the lowest they can get away with, and it will serve as a starting point for talks.

MAKE INQUIRIES

You can start asking questions once you’re sure you can keep your emotions in check. Learn why the adjuster made the deal they did.

Inquire about how your claims adjuster arrived at their offer based on their facts.

If your claim is denied, your insurance adjuster is expected to provide you with the reasons for their decision.

Their replies might assist you in figuring out how to reply with a suitable counteroffer.

For example, if your offer was insufficient or rejected due to missing information, in your counteroffer, supply them with the information they need.

GIVE THE FACTS.

After your accident, you must record everything.

Your injuries, medical expenses, property damage, missed pay, and any other proof of losses may all help you prove your case.

It will be simpler to substantiate your claim if you have more proof.

It will be more difficult for your insurance provider to issue you a lowball offer if you have the evidence to back up the amount you estimate is required to pay your losses.

 

Providing your adjuster with all of the facts, backed up by documentation, will almost certainly compel them to make you a higher settlement offer.

Make a counter-offer.

You and your attorney may construct a counteroffer using all of your data and after properly evaluating the offer from your adjuster.

Other things to think about when making your counteroffers are the insurance policy limitations and the wrongdoer’s assets if the insurance policy limits aren’t adequate to cover your losses.

During the settlement talks, many proposals may be made.

It will be up to you and your attorney to determine how much of your claim you are prepared to accept.

If you cannot achieve a fair settlement during discussions, you may be forced to go to court to pursue your claim.

WRITE A RESPONSE

Your lawyer will assist you in drafting a formal response to the first offer in the form of a demand letter, informing the insurance that you are rejecting the offer.

While drafting the letter, you and your attorney may point out the insurance company’s incorrect assumptions that resulted in the first offer being too low.

Additional data that were left out originally, such as evidence of lost income, updated medical documents and bills, details from police reports, and details regarding your non-economic losses, such as how pain and suffering are impacting your life, should be included in your written answer.

DON’T GIVE UP UNTIL YOU’VE BEEN HEALED.

When renegotiating a low settlement offer, remember that you should not accept anything until you have fully recovered from your injuries.

You must fully comprehend the scope of your injuries for the settlement offer to pay future medical bills.

You can’t renegotiate or launch another personal injury case after you’ve accepted and signed the settlement.

You are unable to negotiate after accepting a settlement offer. Your settlement offer is a legally binding agreement.

 

In a normal settlement, you agree to accept money in return for the termination of your case or the relinquishment of your legal rights against the other party.

There are no re-dos after your settlement agreement has been approved and signed. There’s no turning back if you later discover that the settlement was too low to fulfill all of your financial demands.

That’s why it’s critical to determine if the settlement offer you’ve received is reasonable and fair. This is why, while negotiating a settlement, having an experienced personal injury attorney on your side is invaluable.

How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Assist You in Reaching a Settlement

Your injury lawyer has received considerable training and has the real-world experience to assist you in negotiating your injury claim.

When negotiating your settlement, your lawyer will assist you in performing two crucial responsibilities.

To begin, they will undertake a thorough investigation of the losses you have sustained to determine your out-of-pocket expenditures as well as the pain and suffering you are experiencing.

It requires the talent and knowledge of a seasoned attorney to translate non-economic losses into a realistic financial sum.

Your lawyer will level the playing field between you and the insurance company by having the required knowledge and training to deal with insurance companies and their lowball proposals. This will increase your chances of receiving a reasonable payment.

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