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How To Negotiate An Insurance Settlement For Your Car Accident
How To Negotiate An Insurance Settlement For Your Car Accident
It is frustrating when your normal routine and quality of life is interrupted by an injury you suffer in an accident caused by a negligent driver. The medical expenses and other losses that result from these accidents can cause major financial problems. Additionally, negotiating with insurance companies while you are undergoing treatment is overwhelming and complex. An experienced car accident lawyer knows how to handle insurance companies and will negotiate with them on your behalf.
Why You Need A Car Accident Lawyer
People who choose to negotiate with insurance companies on their own are highly likely to fail to account for all their injuries, pain, and other losses they endured. For example, most people do not know that they may need compensation for future medical expenses if they suffered significant injuries. Another issue is that insurance companies are only interested in maximizing their profits not in paying you. They will try to trick you into signing settlements or saying things that will lead to them paying you as little as possible for your claim, or nothing at all. You should speak to a lawyer if you feel that the insurance company is not offering a fair compensation.
Tips For Auto Settlement Negotiations
To increase your chances for having successful auto settlement negotiations, you should do the following:
- Contact your insurance company: You should do this right away after the accident when you can still recall details about your accident. Call the company to report injuries or property damage as accurately as they happened.
- Keep a file of accurate records: The file should include a police accident report, documents from doctors , bills for vehicle repairs and other relevant documents. These documents will be very useful during negotiations and at court if you decide to litigate.
- Calculate what your claim is worth: You should calculate what your claim is worth before you file a claim with your insurance company. Take into account medical bills, injuries suffered, pain and suffering, lost wages, cost of replacing or repairing your car and more.
- Send demand letter to the insurance company: You should send your demand letter to the insurance company after you have determined what you believe your claim is worth.
You can consider self- representation if you suffered a minor injury or when it is obvious that the defendant was at fault in your accident. The insurance company of the at-fault party may not put up much of a fight and may offer a quick settlement if your medical bills are low.
Steps To Take To After a Car Accident
Take the following steps before sending a demand letter to the other driver’s insurance company:
- Take pictures of the vehicle damage, injuries and the accident scene
- Get a copy of the police report
- Ensure you get medical treatment as soon as possible
- Do not give a recorded statement to insurance adjusters from the at-fault party’s insurance company
- Use your PIP insurance coverage to pay initial bills and then use your own health insurance
- Do not share anything about your accident on social media
- File a claim before the statute of limitations for your case runs out