When you or your loved one suffers any bodily harm or injuries, property damage, or financial losses due to someone else’s negligence, you’re legally entitled to compensation. However, your settlement amount can vary based on several factors, including the severity of your injuries and lost wages.
Additionally, what you do after the accident and how you handle the personal injury lawsuit significantly influences the value of your claim. Discussed below is how to maximize compensation in a personal injury case.
Here are 4 tips for compensation in a personal injury case:
1. Partner with a skilled personal injury lawyer
If you were injured in an auto accident, hiring a personal injury attorney specializing in car accidents instead of representing yourself can help maximize your claim. Unlike you, they have the relevant expertise and skill to study your case and establish negligence. Insurance companies usually employ multiple tactics in an attempt to minimize the amount of compensation an accident victim deserves. They can even start with unreasonably low compensation offers, hoping you’ll accept.
Without a personal injury attorney’s help, you may have a hard time negotiating for better offers. Partnering with a skilled personal injury lawyer can help you leverage their negotiation skills for larger settlement offers. Additionally, these attorneys understand all the intricacies of personal injury law, which reduces the risk of mistakes that compromise your compensation. They’ll also ensure your claim is accurately valued and reflects all the financial losses you’ve suffered due to the accident.
2. Seek prompt medical care
Besides helping safeguard your health, seeking immediate medical care after an accident comes in handy, especially if you intend to file a personal injury case. This is because it provides the documentation you require to support your case. Insurance providers will need your medical reports to file your compensation claim.
This reduces the risk of insurers downplaying your injuries or arguing that they weren’t caused by that accident. Seeking prompt medical assistance also establishes the link between your injuries and the accident, which is key in proving liability and strengthening your claim.
3. Avoid talking to the insurance company without your lawyer’s guidance
After the accident, an insurance adjuster may reach out to you and ask to record your statement. While they act like they care about you, adjusters only have their employer’s interest at heart, meaning they’ll use whatever you say to deny or minimize your claim’s worth.
Avoid talking to insurance companies/ adjusters or issuing any written statements. It would be best to let your lawyer deal with the insurance company. However, if you must talk to them, only do so under your personal injury attorney’s guidance to avoid saying something that could jeopardize your claim.
4. Collect and preserve evidence
Proving your personal injury claim and ensuring fair compensation requires you to provide sufficient, relevant evidence. So, gather all the proof you need to win the case, including:
- Medical records: The medical records related to the accident can help connect your injuries to it
- Police report: If the police visited the accident scene, get a copy of their report
- Photos and videos: Take pictures and videos of the accident scene and your accident scene
- Expert opinions: Experts can study the accident scene and your injuries to determine your claim’s accuracy. You can have them testify in your favor
- Witness statements: If people witnessed the accident, record their statements and get the contact details
Endnote
If you’ve suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligence, there’s a lot you can do to maximize your claim. Use these tips to maximize compensation in a personal injury case.
