When you have a personal injury, you want the most for your claim.
LA Century Law explains how to maximize a personal injury settlement.
Note: This article is generic information only. It’s not personal injury advice for your situation. What you should do in your case may depend on the unique circumstances.
For personal injury advice that is specific to your case, contact LA Century Law for a consultation with an experienced Century City personal injury lawyer.
Why Documentation Is Everything in a Personal Injury Case
It’s not enough to have a personal injury. You must prove your right to compensation.
Building a case starts with documenting everything.
Things can happen quickly when an injury occurs. You may think you’re going to remember every detail, but memories can fade quickly.
Document everything as you go. If you or someone else can, record the names and contact information of witnesses at the scene. Take photographs. Appropriately report the accident, whether it is by calling the police, informing your employer, or filling out an incident report with a property or business owner.
As you have medical appointments, keep records of dates and treatment received.
Keep receipts and expense records. Note any limitations and impositions due to the injury. Your lawyer can guide you through documenting your expenses and life changes due to a personal injury.
Tips for Dealing with Insurance Adjusters
DO report the accident to the insurance company as soon as possible. DON’T give them a detailed and definitive injury report right away. DO keep a record of interactions with insurance representatives. DON’T provide a recorded statement or seem too eager to accept a settlement.
Remember that insurance adjusters are looking for reasons to deny your claim. They’re not on your side, no matter how understanding they may seem. Provide the needed information to finalize the claim promptly. Know that you may need to ask for reconsideration or take your case through the formal legal process.
DON’T expect the insurance adjuster to honestly volunteer what your claim is worth. To maximize your personal injury settlement, you should independently value the compensation you may claim. You may benefit from legal advice about your case value.
The Importance of Medical Treatment and Follow-Up Care
Medical treatment forms the basis of any personal injury claim. Getting medical attention serves several purposes. It can:
- Prove that you have injuries.
- Link the injuries in time to the accident or harmful event.
- Show the full extent of injuries so that the insurance company can’t minimize them.
- Stop the insurance company from claiming that you aren’t doing everything possible to heal.
- Support a claim for pain and suffering.
It’s important to get medical care promptly. Usually, this means calling an ambulance, going to the emergency room, or going to urgent care. Then, follow-up care can continue to document the extent of injuries and healing.
Avoiding Common Mistakes That Lower Settlement Value
Advice to maximize a personal injury settlement includes knowing what not to do.
Avoid these common mistakes that may lower your settlement value.
- Posting on social media. Even the fact that you’re posting at all may allow an insurance adjuster to question the extent of your injuries. Remember, setting the post to private doesn’t change anything. The insurance company can find your posts and use them against you.
- Going outside of your medical restrictions. The insurance company may say that you aren’t taking your injuries seriously or that you’re not being honest about them.
- Being too eager to settle the case. When the insurance company knows that you’re willing to take the case as far as necessary, they may offer a higher settlement amount.
- Arguing with the insurance adjuster. Keep your interactions factual and businesslike.
- Waiting to file a case. Even if the insurance company is still responding and communicating, the clock is running out on the time to formally file the case. Plus, waiting can cause memories to fade and evidence to become lost.
- Missing future damages. Often, a personal injury affects a person long after the legal claim ends. But you can’t go back and ask for an increase in a settlement. You must claim future damages as part of the initial settlement. Forgetting about losses that are yet to occur can mean that you don’t maximize your settlement.
- Undervaluing non-economic damages. Non-economic losses can be a significant part of a personal injury claim. Too often, people undervalue their physical and emotional suffering. A lawyer can help you understand the appropriate amount of non-economic compensation when valuing a settlement.
When To Say Yes (or No) to a Settlement Offer
You should accept a settlement offer when:
- It is within the range of probable outcomes if the case were to go to trial.
- The offer reflects a reasonable amount, considering the time and expense of taking the case to trial.
- You want to accept the settlement and resolve the case.
No one can guarantee legal results. However, a lawyer can give you advice about what you might receive if you were to take your case to trial. As you evaluate whether to say yes or no to a settlement offer, look at whether the settlement offer reflects the case value and likely outcomes. Sometimes, maximizing a settlement can mean continuing to pursue the case through formal litigation as the trial approaches.
When you have an attorney, they can give you specific legal advice about when to accept a settlement offer.
Contact an Experienced Century City Personal Injury Lawyer
For personalized advice about maximizing your settlement, contact an experienced Century City personal injury lawyer. At LA Century Law, we take the steps to claim what you deserve in compensation. In addition, we work to avoid mistakes that can hurt your claim.
Call or message us now to talk to a lawyer about your case.