Car accidents are difficult, stressful, and traumatizing events. Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident can make the experience worse, especially when you have been injured in the accident. Victims in a car accident have options available to mitigate the damages incurred as a result of the accident, and it is critical they understand what those options are.
Negotiating a settlement with an insurance company is not usually an easy task, but experienced attorneys like those at autojusticeattorney.com can help. Follow some of the tips listed below to get a better understanding of your options for settling a claim after an auto accident.
Start a Claim As Soon as Possible
The first rule of thumb for what to do after a car accident is to contact your insurance company as soon as possible. The details of an accident will be fresh in your mind immediately after the incident. It is crucial to relay those details to the insurance company quickly and accurately.
Record Keeping is Essential
Details of the car accident and the damages incurred will be required at several points throughout the process of settling a claim with an insurance company. It is important for you to keep detailed records in chronological order of everything that happened, including a police report, medical records from doctors visits, car repair bills, and any other relevant information. These documents will be critical in negotiating a fair settlement and can help speed up the process.
Calculate a Settlement
Calculating what your settlement is worth is an essential step in the process of negotiating with an insurance company. There are several things that must be considered when calculating this amount, including:
- Cost of medical care.
- Income lost as a result of injuries after the accident.
- Any permanent disabilities sustained as a result of the accident.
- Any long-term medical care required as a result of the accident.
- Any pain and suffering experienced as a result of the accident, including any mental health issues.
- The cost of repairing or replacing property that was damaged as a result of the accident.
Sending a Demand Letter to an Insurance Company
Once the value of your claim is determined, you can send a demand letter to the insurance company. This letter explains what damages you experienced as a result of the accident and how much money you are requesting to cover them. If you are unable to determine an amount, an experienced attorney can help you calculate it. It is important to have detailed documentation to back up what is included in the demand letter.
Never Accept the First Offer
An insurance company’s top priority is to make a profit. Because of this fact, it is more than likely the insurance company will reply to the demand letter with an offer that is lower than the amount you or your attorney calculated. You are not required to accept this offer.
Instead, ask the insurance adjuster assigned to the claim to justify their reasoning for the lower amount and reply to each point they made with a counter argument. You may decide to take a number that is lower than your initial demand but is still reasonable. However, if the adjuster offers an amount that is far too low, continuing negotiations may be necessary.
Highlight Points in Your Favor
Insurance companies will always try to pay the lowest amount possible. To get appropriate compensation, always emphasize the points of the argument that best work in your favor. Try not to pay much attention to facts that are not coming into question during the negotiation, but reiterate the damages you suffered and that the at-fault driver is responsible for the damages.
Final Thoughts: Hiring an Experienced Attorney
Insurance companies know their way around car accident settlement claims. When working with a person who is not represented by a personal injury attorney, insurers will often try harder to negotiate a low settlement. Rather than arguing back and forth with an insurance company that refuses to offer a fair settlement, hire an experienced attorney to expedite the process.
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Guest Author Bio
Isabella Thomas
Isabella Thomas is a freelance writer, with 15 years of experience in the law industry. She is a “retired” lawyer and decided to focus on theory rather than practice. She loves promoting new amazing teams in the industry. She lives in Minnesota, Minneapolis with her family.
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