How To Maximize Compensation From A Car Accident

1. Get Immediate Medical Attention

It’s crucial to get immediate medical attention after the incident. Before you request accident surveillance or any proof of evidence, you should prioritize yourself, especially if you’re injured. Even if you think you’re okay, you may have sustained invisible injuries, worsening your condition when left untreated.

In addition, if you don’t receive proper medical attention after a car accident, your insurance company and the at-fault party can argue that the recent incident didn’t cause your injuries. They may even argue that your injuries weren’t related to the incident or already existed.

If you don’t want that to happen, go to the nearest hospital for a thorough medical evaluation and get the right treatment. Doing so will help you obtain medical records, which can be used as evidence to support your right to get the compensation’s max value.

2. Gather Evidence

Collecting evidence as early as the car accident happened is essential to determine fault and liability. Try to collect any related information you remember. Returning to the scene and taking photos may be an excellent idea if you’re confused about what happened.

You can also ask someone to document the damage from the vehicles involved and the surrounding areas of the scene. The other things you should collect include the following:

• Contact details of the at-fault party
• Injuries that the other party has suffered
• Names of witnesses
• Weather conditions during the collision
• Vehicle types involved

All of these may serve as your evidence and support your case. Get a police report, too, since this is critical evidence to back your claim. By preparing all the necessary evidence, it’s possible to maximize your compensation.

3. Call Your Lawyer

Another best way to increase the possible compensation you’ll receive from a car accident is to call your lawyer. It’s your right to hire a lawyer who can thoroughly guide you throughout the legal process.

Tackling your compensation without a legal professional is strongly not advised. The good thing about lawyers is that they can advise you on various ways to deal with your case, mainly when communicating with insurance companies. They can also accurately determine the maximum value for your compensation.

If you disagree with the settlement and your case goes to court, lawyers can represent and defend you in front of the jury and judge. They can also help you prepare for court appearances if it’s your first time.

4. Contact Your Insurance Company And Negotiate Properly

After the accident, one of the things you should do is call your insurance company. Regardless of who’s at fault, you need your insurance policy to cover your expenses. Depending on your coverage, you may get instant financial assistance for necessary repairs and medical bills.

Unfortunately, most insurance companies are always after their profit. Since they’ll lose money from settling your claim, you must learn how to negotiate correctly. If you’re intimidated or concerned about the tactics of insurance adjusters, don’t hesitate to reach out to your lawyer.

Insurance adjusters will do everything to lessen their profit loss. Maximize your compensation by asking your lawyer to help and guide you.

5. Track Your Expenses

Another way to increase your compensation is to track your expenses after the accident. These may include lost wages, medical bills, and other costs like transportation. Accurate records of such expenses will help support your case and allow you to obtain the compensation that will solve your financial problems due to the car accident.

6. Stay Off Social Media

It’s easy to post about the car accident on social media to spread the word, gain sympathy, and prove your innocence. However, it doesn’t work that way. You must go through a legal process to determine who’s at fault in a car accident.

Publishing information on social media won’t do any good to your case. Your posts may even be used against you, negatively affecting your compensation. With that in mind, avoid social media and tell everything to your lawyer instead.

If your lawyer knows the truth about your case, they can quickly think of the best strategies to win. This way, you won’t worry about fighting for the compensation you deserve.

7. Claim Non-Economic Damages

Most car accident victims fail to include non-economic damages when calculating their compensation value. Even if such damages are difficult to prove because they don’t have monetary value, unlike concrete expenses like medical bills and vehicle repairs, they’re more impactful and must be considered.

Some of the non-economic damages you can include in your compensation are:

• Inconvenience
• Loss of consortium
• Reputational damage
• Emotional distress
• Suffering and physical pain
• Disfigurement
• Diminished quality of life

Discuss these non-economic damages with your lawyer to maximize your compensation. This way, you’ll understand why they should be included in your car accident settlement overall amount.

8. Don’t Accept Any Settlement Quickly

Insurance companies are notorious for offering settlements quickly when an accident happens. However, while it may be tempting to accept it, do your best to resist the offer and consult your lawyer about it.

Generally, settlements are lower than you’re entitled to and might not cover all your expenses, such as wage losses and future medical bills. Accepting them too quickly may also mean you lose your right to pursue compensation in the long run. So, get legal advice if you don’t want to make a mistake that may ruin your case.

As mentioned, lawyers can help determine the actual value of your case and protect your legal rights. Only accept settlements when both you and your lawyer agree to receive fair compensation.

Conclusion

Getting maximum compensation from a car accident can be challenging, but it’s possible to achieve. You only need to follow the above tips and hire the best legal advocate. With the right lawyer for your case, you can guarantee you’ll get the justice and compensation you truly deserve.