You could be entitled to compensation if you were injured in an accident caused by another individual. For example, if you were walking to the park and a driver crashed into you with his or her car, that driver should be responsible for your medical bills. He or she should compensate you for the hospital stay, medications, therapy and other costs related to the accident. As a car accident lawyer can tell you, if you file a claim with the driver’s insurance company and receive a settlement offer, there are some things you should keep in mind.
1. There Could Be More Compensation You Deserve
Insurance companies will do everything in their power to avoid having to pay you more than they would like. In many cases, they will work extra hard to ensure the adjuster finds a way to keep your settlement at a minimum. While medical bills might be covered by a settlement offer, the insurance company might lowball it or keep issues such as pain and suffering out of the offer. It’s possible you deserve more than what the insurer is offering. Instead of accepting the offer immediately, you should speak with a lawyer about whether the settlement is fair.
2. You Do Have the Power to Negotiate
Some individuals think that when the insurance company provides an offer, that is the final word and nothing more can be done. That’s just not true. You have the power to negotiate a settlement that you feel is fairer. The worst that could happen is the insurance company would stay strong and not back down. Many situations have enough evidence and begin at a low enough amount that negotiating for more is a real possibility.
3. A Lawyer Could Be Your Best Ally
When you’re fighting for a better settlement offer, your lawyer could be your best ally. Personal injury lawyers negotiate and fight these types of cases all the time and will know what steps to take and when. If you want that experience on your side, it would be in your best interest to contact a lawyer before you ever say yes or no to an offer.
Contact a Lawyer Today
After you are injured, there are a lot of legal items you have to take care of. When you do this on your own it can get overwhelming, but when you work with a lawyer, that can lessen the stress. Contact a personal injury lawyer today for assistance in working toward a fair settlement.