Nothing is worse than getting into a car accident. It can be daunting and stressful. Even if you escape without major physical injuries, there may still be damage to your vehicle, lost wages from missing work, and the headache of dealing with insurance companies. If the accident was not your fault, you deserve fair compensation. Hiring a personal injury lawyer to handle your car accident claim is the best way to maximize your settlement payout and get the money you need to cover damages and lost income.
Document everything related to the accident
The key to getting a good settlement is having lots of supporting evidence to prove your injuries and losses resulted directly from the car accident. Make sure to get contact information for any witnesses who saw the crash. Take photos of the damage to both vehicles, the accident scene, and your injuries. Get a copy of the police report, medical records, auto repair estimates, and any other documents related to the incident. Your personal injury lawyer use all this documentation to demonstrate the other party was at fault and build a strong case for full compensation.
Even if your injuries seem minor at first, it is crucial to get examined by a doctor as soon as possible after the accident. Some symptoms of whiplash, concussions, and soft tissue injuries take days or weeks to appear. Having early medical records will help establish a clear connection between the accident and your health issues. Going to the doctor promptly also shows you took the injuries seriously. Significant gaps in treatment weaken your claim that the accident caused long-term medical problems. Orange County Car Accident Lawyer arranges for treatment and uses the medical documentation to advocate for a settlement that covers the full extent of your injuries and care.
Follow Your Doctor’s Advice
To show the insurance company your injuries are real and deserve compensation, you must strictly follow treatment recommendations from your physicians. Attending all therapy and rehab appointments, taking prescribed medications, and avoiding activities your doctor advises against demonstrate you are committed to getting better. Cutting treatment short or ignoring medical advice gives the impression your injuries were not that serious. Insurance companies will try to minimize claims by arguing the accident did not directly cause health issues or that you did not take appropriate steps to mitigate damages. Closely adhering to doctor’s orders prevents the insurer from making these arguments and maximizes your payout.
Save receipts for costs like prescriptions, medical equipment, damage to your vehicle, rental cars, lost wages, and anything else you had to pay for due to the crash. Your settlement should cover all of these accident-related costs. Keeping meticulous records ensures your personal injury lawyer accounts for and pursues compensation for every single expense when negotiating with the insurance company.
Lawyers should speak with insurance companies
After suffered car accident injuries, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will likely contact you to get a recorded statement about what happened. It may seem harmless to describe the details, but anything you say is used against you later to minimize your claim. Insurance companies are looking for inconsistencies or admissions of partial fault they use to reduce settlement offers. A personal injury lawyer deals with the insurer on your behalf and makes sure you avoid missteps when speaking with them. Your attorney knows what information is helpful versus harmful to a potential settlement. Let your lawyer handle all communication and negotiations.
