Negotiating a Car Accident Settlement
If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver, you have the right to compensation for your accident-related losses. In many cases, car accident claims are resolved through the settlement process with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Unfortunately, in many cases, the insurance company may offer inadequate compensation and try to convince you that your claim isn’t worth it’s actual value. For this reason, it is vital that you consult with your personal injury lawyer, who will have an accurate idea of your claim’s worth. Only then, once you have secured counsel, can negotiations begin towards a fair car accident settlement offer.
How Much Is My Claim Worth?
Negligent drivers have a legal obligation to compensate their victims for all the losses they suffered. Examples of the kinds of damages that are often sought in car accident claims include:
- The medical treatment and rehabilitation required for your injuries
- Lost wages from missed time at work as you recovered
- Repairing your damaged vehicle
- Repair to additional personal property, such as watches, smartphones, and jewelry
All of these costs can be documented and are usually easily ascertainable. For example, your employer can provide documentation of the hours you missed and your pay rate in order to calculate your lost wages.
However, other losses are not as easily determined. Victims are entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering associated with the accident. In many cases, damages for pain and suffering are often the largest component of a car accident settlement, so it is important to know what your pain and suffering are actually worth. Pain and suffering are also highly subjective and can vary widely from case to case.
For example, an injured pregnant woman may be unable to take prescribed pain medication or engage in physical therapy as part of her recovery process, due to the risk of complications for her baby. Her pain and suffering would be more significant because of the circumstances and deserving of greater compensation. Underlying medical conditions can also increase pain and suffering: an injury victim who breaks a bone could have a longer and more painful recovery if they had osteoporosis.
These subjective conditions can affect car accident settlements, making it important to get an opinion from your personal injury lawyer. Insurance companies may try to take advantage of the subjective value of your pain and suffering, focusing instead of the cost of your recovery and devaluing your claim in doing so. to try to devalue your claim. Your personal injury lawyer can help you determine what your pain and suffering are worth and prove to the insurance company that you are entitled to this amount.
What Happens If the Insurance Company Will Not Negotiate?
If the insurance company does not make a fair car accident settlement offer, you have the right to file a lawsuit against the negligent driver. Your personal injury lawyer will help you determine whether it is worth going to trial in order to pursue better compensation. Taking a case to court is always a risk, as juries are notoriously unpredictable. If the insurance company’s offer is too low, however, going to trial may be the only option for receiving the fair compensation you deserve. Your lawyer will help negotiate your claim, decide whether to file a lawsuit, and handle the litigation on your behalf.
In many cases, taking your case to trial is a lengthy process. Some injury victims wait months, or even years, to receive the funds from a jury verdict. Many victims cannot wait that long to pay the bills that are piling up, especially if they are unable to work due to their injuries. Fortunately, USClaims can help get you cash now.
Get Cash to Pay Your Bills Now
USClaims offers pre-settlement funding for personal injury victims. If a case is qualified for pre-settlement funding, we can purchase a portion of the anticipated court judgment or car accident settlement proceeds and pay you cash now. USClaims only gets paid if a case is won or has reached a settlement! Apply now or call us today at 1-877-USCLAIMS to learn more.