As the number of people who are severely injured in car accidents has dropped, there’s still a steady number of accidents that occur every day.
As these show no signs of slowing, it’s important that no one pays more than they should following a serious accident. Whether it’s for medical bills or for car repair, your car accident settlement should cover what you need.
Here are three tips to ensure your settlement works out in your favor.
1. Bring Documentation
If you want to ensure that you get the settlement you deserve, you’re going to need to bring proof from your accident. While it’s hard to think straight when you’re in this situation, it’s vital to take photos from the scene. If it’s the day after, take as many photos as you still can.
Take photos of the damage done to your vehicle. Bring in documentation from any medical visits you’ve had or any scans that have been done.
If you want to have a little extra muscle behind your settlement, bring photos from the scene of the accident. If you can find skid marks, take photos. If there’s a particularly hard-to-see corner that a car turned from, take photos there too.
2. Get Estimates
When you’re looking to get what you’re owed, you need to have a ballpark figure in mind. Coming up with a random number won’t get you what you’re looking for.
The best way to do this is to get as many estimates in writing as you can. If there was severe damage done to your vehicle, get your mechanic to give you an estimate of how much the damage is going to cost. In case you’ve had physical injuries, talk to your doctor and get them to estimate how much it’s going to cost you after your insurance pays off.
If you find that you’re going to miss work, you can include that figure as well – based on how much you make week to week.
3. Talk to a Lawyer
To ensure that you get the settlement you’re looking for, you need to talk to a lawyer. While you might think that you’ll be able to go in there with lots of evidence and get what you deserve, it might be more difficult than you think.
Once insurance adjusters find their way into the room, they’re going to try to talk you down and pay you less than you deserve. With a lawyer on your side, they’ll be less likely to do so.
If you have a strong enough case, you might get your attorney to work for a fee they only collect if you win.
Your Car Accident Settlement Can Be Fair
When you’re just trying to reach a fair car accident settlement, you shouldn’t have lawyers trying to undercut you or make you settle for less. If you follow the tips above, negotiating should be a breeze.
If you’re wondering what the right circumstances are for hiring an accident attorney, check out our guide for more info.