How To Maximize Your Personal Injury Compensation After a Car Crash? 

Car crashes are a harsh reality for millions of people in the United States every year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were over 5.2 million reported crashes in 2020, with many people suffering injuries that affected their lives.

If you’ve been in a car accident and sustained injuries, but you don’t get your injury compensation, you deserve fair compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional pain.

But how do you ensure you get the maximum amount? Well, let’s discuss the actionable steps that can make all the difference. Keep on reading!

Understand the Value of Your Claim: Personal Injury Compensation

Secondly, knowing the value of your personal injury claim is important. What compensation may include is medical bills, property damage, lost income, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. Understanding this makes it easier to know if an offer is fair or not.

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention

After an accident, your health should always be your top priority. Getting immediate medical care is important to your safety of course, but it’s also vital to documenting your injury for your claim.

Insurance companies often want to see how often one visits their doctor to verify how severe the injury is.

Key Tip:

Always follow your doctor’s advice and keep records of every visit, diagnosis, and treatment.

2. Document Everything

You’d be best served by evidence in getting a personal injury claim. Start gathering proof of your case as soon from the moment the crash has occurred.

What To Document:

Accident Scene: Snap pictures of the cars, conditions of the street, and whatever you can see of the victims’ injuries.

Witness Details: Collect names and contact information of witnesses.

Police Report: Request a copy of the police report for your records.

Medical Records: Keep every medical document related to the accident.

3. Avoid Admitting Fault

It’s human nature to apologize, even when you’re not at fault. However, statements like “I’m sorry” can be misconstrued as an admission of guilt. Stick to factual information when speaking to the other party, police, or insurance representatives.

4. Notify Your Insurance Company

Report the accident to your insurance provider promptly. Failing to do so might result in a denial of coverage. Be honest but concise, and avoid sharing unnecessary details that could weaken your case.

5. Keep Communication Minimal with the Other Party’s Insurance

Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company, not for you. Their goal is to minimize payouts. Be cautious and avoid giving recorded statements without consulting your lawyer.

6. Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer

Navigating a personal injury claim can be overwhelming, especially if it happened in a city like Atlanta which is known for its complex laws and aggressive insurance tactics.

During such times, you should immediately consult an Atlanta car accident lawyer who can evaluate your case, negotiate effectively, and even represent you in court if necessary.

Why Hire an Attorney?

• They understand the legal process.
• They can negotiate a higher settlement.
• They will handle all communications on your behalf.

7. Preserve Evidence of Financial Losses

Your injuries might lead to medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost income. Retain receipts, pay stubs, and invoices to document these losses.

Pro Tip:

If your injuries affect your ability to work long-term, consider including future earning capacity in your claim.

8. Be Patient During Negotiations

A virtue, patience is in seeking compensation. Insurance companies may choose to quickly settle a case to avoid further trouble.

However, initial offers from insurance companies are usually well below what you’re entitled to. Do not accept the first offer.

9. Understand Comparative Negligence Rules

In California and Florida, among other states, state laws would apply comparative negligence (fault) standards.

This allows your compensation to be reduced where you were partially to blame for the accident. Minimizing blame that may be attributed to you can be worked with your lawyer.

10. Don’t Post on Social Media

If you feel like sharing your experience on social media, insurance companies regularly search social media for evidence to disprove your claims. Don’t share posts, updates or anything that contradicts what you’ve claimed.

11. Seek Expert Testimonies

In more complex cases, you can add expert witness medical professionals, and accident reconstruction specialists, for example.

Testimony from them can give weight to who’s at fault and the gravity or extent of your injuries.

12. Highlight Emotional and Psychological Impact

While personal injury claims usually point to physical injuries, emotional trauma counts too. Tell us about anxiety, depression or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by the accident.

Tip:

Document therapy sessions or psychological evaluations to substantiate these claims.

13. Be Aware of Statute of Limitations

There is a deadline for filing personal injury claims in every state. In most states, this is two to three years. But if you do not miss this deadline, you will then be prohibited from seeking compensation at all.

14. Stay Organized

It’s easier to follow a well organized claim and it makes your case stronger. Create folders and/or digital tools you use to organize your documents: medical records, police reports and insurance company correspondence.

15. Focus on Your Recovery

While pursuing compensation is important, don’t let it overshadow your recovery. Prioritize your physical and mental health to ensure you’re in the best position to move forward after the settlement.

The Bottom Line

Getting maximum personal injury compensation after a car crash takes effort on your part, including being thorough and organized, plus having the advice of the right legal team.

With help of the following steps, you can proceed through this with confidence and earn what you’re entitled to.