If you have been injured in an automobile accident, you want to get every penny you deserve from the insurance company or the responsible party. Considering that the vast majority of claims are settled before they reach a judge, this means that you’ll want to be skilled in negotiating a fair settlement offer. But what are some of the best ways to negotiate a settlement amount? We share a few insider tips for negotiating your car accident settlement agreement in today’s blog.
How To Negotiate A Strong Car Accident Settlement
If you’re looking to get the most out of your car accident claim, here are some tips to keep in mind during negotiations.
Lawyer Up – Simply put, the best thing you can do to increase your car accident settlement amount is to get a lawyer. Injury lawyers negotiate with insurance companies on a regular basis, and they also have a wealth of experience putting together a strong claim. You may not know how to form a strong claim or counter offer, but you can bet that a lawyer will. Remember, injury lawyers work on a contingent basis, meaning the more money they get for you, the more money they take home, as they get a small percentage of your award. They have a vested interest in getting you the biggest settlement possible, and oftentimes they pay for their services many times over by getting you way more than you would have received on your own. Trust your case to a professional who is adept at building strong cases and counterarguments.
Consider All Compensation Angles – You’re probably aware that you can be compensated for medical bills, property damage and lost wages in the wake of a car accident, but there’s a number of other expenses you can be compensated for. Depending on the nature of your accident, you may be able to negotiate for inclusions like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, home accommodations and required home services like if you need to hire help to watch your kids or clean your house because you aren’t physically able to do it while you’re recovering from the accident. You can even be reimbursed for gas mileage or public transportation costs for expenses incurred traveling to or from doctor’s appointments.
Have Patience – Insurance companies oftentimes get people to agree to lowball offers because they don’t have patience. Don’t just jump at a first offer or agree to a deal because the other side put a deadline on its availability. Be patient, trust that your case is worth more, and take your time talking with your attorney and filing a counterclaim. Have patience, and you’ll be able to make the other side sweat a bit.
Stay Organized – Finally, it helps to be organized during negotiations or an arbitration hearing. Keep accurate records of all the trackable ways that you have been financially impacted by the accident. Keep receipts and bills when possible. This will help make it clear and obvious why you’re asking for a specific amount of compensation, and it will make it harder for the insurance company to justify a lower amount if you’ve clearly outlined the financial impact of the accident they are responsible for.
If you want to do the single best thing for your case and hire an attorney, go with one of the most trusted and respected teams in the Twin Cities. Give the team at Hey Workers a call and let us build a strong compensation case for you. For more information, or for help with your car accident or workers’ compensation claim, give our team a call today at (844) 439-9675.
