How to Get the Most Compensation from Your Personal Injury Claim
If you’re considering filing a personal injury claim for an accident that wasn’t your fault, you likely want to get the largest amount possible. Even minor injuries can have a huge impact. You may be left with mounting medical bills or unable to work and provide for your family. In severe cases, an accident could cause long-term and even incurable damage. Sadly, it’s not uncommon for people to suffer a traumatic brain injury or become disabled following an accident.
But unfortunately, insurance companies are in the business of making money — often at your expense. An insurer might try to pressure you into accepting a low offer and refuse to budge, even when you’re entitled to much more.
So how can you make sure you get the maximum possible compensation from your claim?
Seek Medical Treatment as Soon as Possible
Your first step after any accident should be to get checked out by a medical professional, even if you only have minor injuries. You may be prepared to stick it out until the pain subsides to avoid having to pay medical bills, but your injuries could get worse over time. Injuries like concussions can take days to present, and whiplash from a car accident can cause delayed trauma weeks or even months after an accident.
To successfully make a personal injury claim, you need to show your injuries were caused by the accident, so it’s important to have medical records. Insurance companies will often try to claim injuries that develop later were the result of a superseding event and not the accident, which can affect the outcome of your claim and the amount of compensation you’ll receive.
Collect Evidence
Evidence is crucial, as it’ll help prove your injuries and show that the other party involved in your accident was negligent.
If your doctor’s report shows you suffered a head injury from a slip and fall and you have photographic evidence that the area was not cordoned off or clearly marked with signs, you have a much better shot at receiving fair compensation, as the other party will not be able to argue otherwise.
If you are in a car accident, ideally, you want to take pictures and videos of the aftermath, including your visible injuries, the vehicle(s) involved, any hazards present, and the weather conditions.
You also want to take down the contact details of all other drivers involved and any witnesses to the accident.
If you’ve already had your accident, it may not be possible to collect evidence from the accident site. In this case, having proof of your injuries will be vital.
Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
The final way to maximize the amount of compensation you’ll get from your claim is to hire a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
In the case of a truck accident, the truck’s black box and GPS data may go missing after the accident. If you act quickly, your attorney will be able to file a court order for access, and it could be critical for your case. For example, if you can prove the road was slippery due to heavy rain or a snowstorm and the truck’s black box data shows the truck was driving at a regular speed, you have a solid case.
It may sound counterintuitive to hire a lawyer if you want the maximum settlement. You may be tempted to file a claim on your own so that you can keep the full payout. However, those who hire a personal injury attorney overwhelmingly receive higher payouts than those who go it alone. On average, those who hire a lawyer receive a whopping $77,600 in compensation after legal fees. In comparison, people who handle their claims independently receive just $17,600.
Even if you have no intention of taking your case to court and would prefer to accept an offer from an insurance company, the threat of a lawsuit alone can make insurers more likely to make a reasonable offer. Having a personal injury lawyer in your corner shows you’re serious about moving forward.
An accident can be life-altering or be a minor annoyance, but either way, you deserve compensation when it isn’t your fault. Finding an attorney you trust to fight your case — and not one who advises settling early for a quick, easy, and cheap win — is crucial for getting the maximum possible settlement.
