You must make sure the car insurance company is made aware of every economic and non-economic hardship you’ve faced since the accident. You won’t receive any support for damages you don’t mention in an insurance claim.
Knowing every damage that insurers can be asked to cover after an accident is another key to getting the maximum in compensation possible. Many victims are in the dark about some of the benefits available that can increase the value of a settlement check.
Avoiding the common tactics that insurers use to limit what you receive is also important. This might include an attempt to shift blame in the accident or to raise doubts about how badly you are hurt.
If your accident involves an injury and another driver is to blame, you can contact Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Bakersfield for a free case consultation. It’s an easy, no-obligation way to get your questions answered and find out how much your injury should be worth in a settlement, before insurance adjusters try to convince you it’s worth very little.
Getting Ready to Battle a Car Insurance Company to Secure What’s Fair
After getting struck by a careless driver on a busy road like Ming Avenue, victims may be left with towering medical bills and no way to pay them because their injuries force them to miss work. Getting the most out of a traffic accident claim will be critical to being able to afford the best medical care available, and being able to support yourself while you can’t work.
In many cases, the simplest way to get the maximum value out of a car accident claim is to create the most thorough list possible. This list would have to include the many ways a car accident has affected your life. All of the economic damages must be included, such as lost paychecks, hospital bills, and even travel costs going to see specialists.
The non-economic damages, such as the pain you are put through and the emotional toll of an accident and a difficult recovery, should also be compensated.
There are some other steps to take to ensure you hold the insurance company for an at-fault driver fully responsible and secure the most benefits possible:
- Protect yourself from blame. You’ll need evidence that can prove you weren’t at fault in your accident, even if a Bakersfield Police accident report already cleared you of blame. Insurers will try to shift blame, no matter what actually happened. They can claim you caused the crash and reject your claim. They might also convince you to accept some blame in an accident, providing an excuse to slash your benefits.
- Gather evidence. This will be the best way to protect your claim and earn the maximum in benefits. Take photos at the scene of your accident and present them in an injury claim. Get statements from witnesses. Retrieve a copy of a CHP accident report. Your Bakersfield Car Accident Lawyer would conduct a full investigation into what happened and also back your case with evidence.
- Back Up Your Injuries with Medical Evidence. The severity of your injuries, the time it takes to heal, and the effect they have on your daily life play a big role in the size of the settlement you receive. Make sure your medical charts are included in any insurance claim. Work with your doctor to document any pain you have. Get estimates on the care you might need in the future, such as additional surgeries, physical therapy, and even long-term disability care. Submit all this information to the insurer.
- Submit Documents. Keep all receipts from your hospital visits and any medical bills. Providing copies of your pay stubs from before the accident and afterward can show the benefits and income you’ve lost while you’ve been unable to work. Submit the repair estimates for any car damage. Submit any bills you’ve already paid because the insurance company was taking too long to provide support.
- Don’t Be Fooled by The Insurer’s Quick Action or a Delay. An insurer may rush to send you a settlement offer. You may really need that money, but a first offer is usually a “lowball” offer. This means your case is worth much more. A first offer probably won’t cover all of your injury costs. They put it in front of you, hoping you don’t explore the value of your case and what you’ll need to rebuild your life. Insurers can also make you wait a long time, hoping you become more and more desperate as your bills stack up. When you are at your lowest point, they send you a lowball offer, hoping you’ll jump at anything. Your lawyer can go over any settlement offer with you and help you reject it and demand more when it’s not sufficient.
- Don’t Offer Recorded Statements. Speaking to insurers can be dangerous. They’ll ask you for a recorded statement. Decline and just stick to basic information. They are hoping that if you make a statement about what happened, they can twist your comments to hurt your case later. They’ll use anything you say as an excuse to throw out your claim. The best idea is to allow a skilled attorney to handle these frustrating calls, allowing you to focus on getting better.
- Talk to a Car Accident Lawyer. A free case consultation is a great way to understand what the insurer should be offering and how to hold out for the most possible. If you can earn more with the help of a lawyer, a reputable lawyer will tell you that. If the lawyer can’t earn you more, the lawyer should tell you that as well, and guide you on how to file the claim yourself.
When Should I Have a Lawyer for a Bakersfield Car Accident Case?
If your accident only involves car damage or very minor injuries, you can usually do okay by handling your case yourself.
But if your collision leaves you or a loved one with a serious injury, and you weren’t to blame, it’s a good idea to speak with a real Bakersfield car accident lawyer in a free, no-obligation case consultation.
Increased medical costs tend to make car insurance adjusters work harder to limit the support you get. A good attorney can often secure you much more than you could hope to win by taking on a giant insurance company yourself.
And if you do need a lawyer to represent you, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pay Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers. We don’t charge anything unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check that an insurer must write for you.