If you have been injured in a car accident, and the accident was the fault of another negligent party, then you may have grounds for a personal injury claim. If you do, then it is important to know how to negotiate with the insurance company of the at-fault party. Keep reading to get the facts and then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 to request a free legal consultation.
- Know the Truth about the Insurance Company
- Make a Claim as Soon as Possible
- Work with a Personal Injury Attorney
- Determine What a Fair Settlement Is
- Know the Arguments in Your Favor
The most important thing you can do to ensure you get a fair settlement after an accident is to truly understand that the insurance company is not on your side. It does not matter how nice the adjuster is. It does not matter what type of “evidence” they provide to convince you that their offer is fair. The truth is that they are on the side of the insurance company and the insurance company is there to make money. They are not on your side.
After your car accident, it is important to contact the police and insurance company(s) right away. You want to start the claim as soon as you can because you will be more likely to remember the imperative facts and to retain the evidence needed to prove your case. It is difficult to negotiate for an accident that is two years old if the witnesses no longer remember the specifics of the case.
No matter how talented you may be in general negotiating, unless you have a legal background you are not going to be well-versed in how to negotiate this case. Your personal injury attorney has the case law, experience, and expertise to provide custom services related to the specific legal aspects of your case. Study after study shows that cases that involve a personal injury attorney lead to a higher average settlement than those that do not involve an attorney.
Do not leave it up to the insurance company to tell you what a reasonable settlement is. Calculate the cost of your medical care (including both past and estimated future expenses), your lost income, any permanent disabilities you may be dealing with, pain and suffering, property damage, and other costs. Your attorney will help determine a minimum settlement figure to accept.
When it comes to negotiating with an insurance company, it is not enough to believe that you are owed more – you must have evidence. You need concrete examples and evidence of your costs and a reasonable settlement amount. You need facts to back up your claims. You need medical records, witness statements, opinions of accident reconstruction experts – the list goes on. Work with an attorney who can help provide this for you by contacting Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
