When you’re hurt in a personal injury accident, you need a settlement that reflects what your case is worth. There are things you can do to increase your personal injury settlement in California.
Our experienced Century City personal injury lawyers at LA Century Law explain how to increase a personal injury settlement value in California.
1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention and Follow Up Regularly
Start by seeking immediate medical attention. Medical care right after the accident helps you in several ways:
- Stabilizing injuries—Prompt medical care can prevent injuries from becoming worse and can start your path to healing. This can increase your settlement value because it counters the defense argument that you didn’t do all you could to minimize harm from the accident.
- Identifying the full extent of injury—Your injuries may be more serious than you realize. Immediate medical care investigates your injuries and condition. When injuries are identified, they can be valued in full.
- Linking injuries to the accident and cause of harm—The evaluation and documentation you receive can link the harmful event to your injuries. Getting prompt medical attention makes it harder for the defense to argue that your injuries were caused by something else.
In addition to initial medical care, follow up regularly with your care providers. Periodic status checks can document progress and minimize setbacks. The records you create document your course of treatment and physical improvement and help explain the extent of suffering due to your injuries.
2. Document Everything: Injuries, Expenses, and Daily Impact
To be fairly compensated, you must document your injuries, expenses, and the ways you have been impacted by what happened. Start by understanding the types of compensation that you can claim in a personal injury settlement. Learn about economic and non-economic damages, including future medical bills, mental health injury, and pain and suffering. Then, determine what documentation you need to prove each element.
Everything must be documented. Your testimony can be valuable evidence. You may keep a journal of the treatment you receive, therapies, pain levels, and physical limitations. Keep records of medical care, lost income, and your return to work. Track out-of-pocket expenses.
You may supplement this documentation with experts who can provide additional evidence where records and witness testimony are insufficient.
3. Use Expert Opinions To Support Long-Term Damages
When injuries are moderate or serious, you may experience symptoms and limitations after you resolve the compensation claim. You deserve fair compensation for the ways that you are impacted by the accident, even if the effects are felt for years or a lifetime. Expert testimony can help increase a personal injury settlement by explaining long-term damages.
You may claim compensation for long-term damages, if applicable. But the evidence that you present to support future damages cannot be speculative. An expert can explain how your injuries are likely to impact you in the future. They can support that your future financial losses and pain and suffering are reasonably certain. Use of an expert can maximize your personal injury settlement by ensuring this valuable category of damages is not overlooked.
4. Avoid Common Mistakes That Hurt Your Claim
Part of increasing your personal injury settlement amount is avoiding common mistakes that can lower an award. For example, stay off social media following an accident. You may say something without even realizing how it can hurt your case. You may want to tell others that you’re okay, but the defense may argue that means you’re not hurt. Photographs and video may inadvertently contradict what you’re claiming for injuries. There might be a reasonable explanation, but it can be enough for the defense to create doubt.
In addition, avoid going outside of physical restrictions for working and activity limitations. Don’t say you’re sorry or admit fault for the accident. Don’t speculate about the facts and circumstances surrounding what happened. Avoid talking about the accident, even with close friends or family members.
5. Negotiate Strategically with Insurance Adjusters
The insurance company wants to pay as little as possible. How you negotiate can impact the amount that you receive. Start by knowing what your case is worth. Don’t rely on the insurance adjuster to give you a case value.
Be prepared, understanding the facts of the case and potential defenses. When you anticipate what the insurance company might say as they review the case, you can respond effectively to issues that they raise. There are times when it’s best to offer additional information.
Other times, it’s best to keep information and strategy confidential as you negotiate. Maintain a professional demeanor. Save records of interactions with insurance company representatives.
If the insurance representative continues to ask for more information, if the grounds for denial are weak, or if they fail to respond to your communication, it may be time to proceed with formal legal action.
6. Don’t Settle Too Quickly—Understand the Full Value of Your Claim
It can be tempting to accept the first offer from the insurance company. But you may increase your personal injury settlement amount by continuing to pursue the case. Continuing the case may allow you to gather additional evidence or help refute defenses. In addition, when the defense knows that you’re serious about taking your case to trial, they may be more likely to offer a favorable settlement.
When you understand the full value of your claim, you can evaluate whether a settlement offer is within the range of reasonable outcomes.
You can weigh the cost of the trial, risks, and other factors to determine whether to accept the settlement or continue to pursue the case.
Contact an Experienced Century City Personal Injury Lawyer
A lawyer can assist you with all aspects of your personal injury claim. At LA Century Law, we know how to increase personal injury settlements. That’s why we’ve collected millions for our clients with a 99% success rate. Contact us today to talk to an experienced Century City personal injury lawyer about how you can increase your settlement amount.