Tips to maximize your Car Accident Settlement

by | Sep 28, 2021 | DUI/DWI

Tips to maximize your Car Accident Settlement
Many of us, regrettably, are involved in a road traffic accident at some time in our lives, but not everyone receives the most appropriate legal advice. From damages to your vehicle and physical injuries, to long-term side effects and loss of work, the potential impact can be hard to foresee in the moments following your car accident.

If you’ve been injured as a result of another person’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation in San Francisco. With potential medical bills and implications to your quality of life, it is important to seek the maximum from the car accident claim to which you are entitled. The actions you take immediately after the car accident are critical for deciding how much accident compensation you can acquire from the insurance company, or how well your case will stand in court if it goes to trial. They can add to or take away from your credibility.

The tough part is already behind you. Now, a crucial part of making a full recovery is ensuring you have adequate compensation to do so. After the accident, there are additional expenses like medical expenses, pain, suffering, and lost wages which you need to take care of.

The insurance company’s goal is to pay you, the accident victim, as little as possible. Having a qualified car accident lawyer from The Hallinan Law Firm makes a great deal of difference when it comes to increasing personal injury settlement.

Here are important tips on how to build a winning case, so you can maximize your car accident settlement and walk out of the courthouse satisfied.

9

Check for injuries and call 911

If you are physically able, check passengers in your car and the passengers of the other vehicle, then call 911 to ask for help even if the cars aren’t badly damaged.

Don’t let the other driver or anyone related to the car accident convince you or talk you out of calling 911. Don’t agree to any settlements, no matter how much they plead you to.

Inform the 911 dispatcher about :

  • Your location, with the landmarks.
  • The number of people injured, if anyone was thrown out of the car, or is trapped in the wreck.
  • Inform about danger on the scene like if there is leaking fuel or overturned cars.

Remain at the accident scene until police and the ambulance arrive.

9

Be careful of what you say at the scene

While you are waiting for help to arrive, make efforts to help the other person injured. Prevent yourself from making any statements that can be used later against you, for example, ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘I didn’t see you’.

Do not admit to a fault, even if you think you made a mistake. Being quiet is not dishonest. The truth is, you don’t have all the information about the factors that contributed to the car accident. You are not aware of what the other driver did and didn’t do.

In many states, you are eligible for accident injury compensation even if you are partially to blame for the crash.

9

Get Medical Treatment

While you know to get medical treatment if you have suffered evident bodily injury, you may not know how important it is to get examined by a doctor even if you think you weren’t hurt. Traumatic brain, spine injuries, back and neck injuries are just a few medical conditions where symptoms can take days or weeks to develop.

Asking to receive a car accident settlement can fall on deaf ears if you haven’t been checked out for your medical concerns. Your best bet for maximizing your personal injury claim is to present an accurate picture of your injuries and the action you’ve taken to treat them.

It’s crucial to follow doctor’s advice, go to all doctor’s appointments, and not have gaps in your medical care. Keep records of all your doctor notes, treatment plans, physical therapy recommendations, and more.

9

Gather evidence supporting your claim

You can’t make a case off incomplete evidence. You have to prove the driver’s negligence and the seriousness of your injuries to win your case and to receive the justified car accident settlement. You can do this by collecting evidence, beginning at the accident scene. Types of evidence you need to uphold are:

  • Photos showing damage to the vehicles, your injuries, accident scene, and road condition.
  • Photos of your clothes and shoes in the condition they were in at the time of the accident.
  • Other drivers and their insurance company’s contact information.
  • Statements and contact information of the witnesses.
  • Police Report.
  • Medical bills and records.
  • Receipts of repair or replacement of your vehicle.
  • Payslips and wage loss documents.
  • Insurance Policy.
  • Assess your damages.

Physically visible injuries may not be all you’re dealing with. Along with physical damages, the car accident victim may experience emotional disturbance including stress, anxiety, PTSD, and more. There may be unseen internal trauma leading to hidden damages.

Hence, it is important to think wisely, do research, and make sure you are aware of all the damages you have suffered. This is where it benefits you to partner with a skillful car accident attorney who can review your case and help you understand another category of damages that you may have not considered before.

9

Stay off Social Media

It’s wise to step away from social media if you’ve experienced a personal injury, at least for the time being. You should stay off social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter while you are settling your claim. At the bare minimum, you should not discuss the car accident, your injuries, or post photos. The insurance company and their attorney may search social media and check related posts and photos and use them to argue that you have recovered from your accident injuries, or they are not as serious as you claim.
9

Document your rejections

The insurance company may offer you a quick settlement of your claim. They’ll make a low-ball offer in hopes that you’ll accept less than you deserve in exchange to get paid quickly. Simply telling the other party that the offer is insufficient isn’t enough. To build your case, you’ll need to precisely explain why you aren’t accepting the offer. Include necessary documentation, and supporting details to back up your claim. By doing this, you move a bit forward towards receiving the payout you deserve. And you also disclose that your case is strong and capable of winning.
9

Make good impression

The other side is going to make a settlement offer based on what the jury might do at a trial. Juries make their decision based on what they see and hear at the trial, so it’s important to put your best foot forward. This means being polite, respectful, looking your best when you’re due in court.

We’ll help maximize your Car Accident Settlement

For all the reasons discussed above, a Car Accident Case can be a long and complex affair. Hence, it is essential to get an experienced personal injury attorney to represent you, as they play an integral role in accident victims getting the most money from a car accident lawsuit.

Were you or your family member injured in a car accident in San Francisco? You can contact The Hallinan Law Firm office at (415) 837-3449 (Answering 24×7) to schedule a FREE consultation for your car accident case and to learn about your car accident claim options. We can help you build the strongest car accident lawsuit, so you can win against your negligible driver.

We ensure that victims of road traffic accidents do not become victims of insurance industry tactics.

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