When someone else’s negligence leaves you injured, you probably wonder how to increase your personal injury settlement to make sure you recover enough to pay all your related expenses and losses. One of the best ways to do this is by contacting a Columbus personal injury lawyer with Fox Injury Law who can advise you on how to increase the settlement amount on your case specifically.
What steps can I take to maximize my settlement amount?
Maximizing the compensation you recover when filing a personal injury claim can start at the accident scene, even before you decide to speak with an attorney. The key to getting the full compensation to which you are entitled is gathering evidence to show the extent of your injuries and establishing the other party’s negligence. You may do this by:
- Taking photos of the surrounding area and any property damage
- Obtain a copy of the police report
- Take photos of your injuries
- Keep meticulous records of medical treatment
- Keep records of quotes, medical bills, or other invoices relating to the injuries
Additionally, even if you don’t think you’re injured in the accident, it is highly beneficial to seek medical care after an accident. This allows a provider to evaluate you and help you identify hidden injuries that may not show to their full extent until hours or days later.
Can it hurt my claim to speak with the insurance company?
While meticulous record keeping will help you make sure you don’t leave anything on the table, the other portion of maximizing your settlement offer is to avoid procuring additional liability. Most often, this happens due to the efforts of the insurance adjuster assigned to your case. However, you can avoid some of these common missteps.
Whether you plan to secure an attorney for your personal injury case or not, an adjuster is likely to call you within a day or so of the accident to take a recorded statement. They may seem friendly and strike up a conversation, but it is best to minimize what you say without talking to your lawyer first to avoid accidentally offering them something they can use against you.
The adjuster sounded so helpful over the phone. Can I trust them?
Insurance companies and their employees have a primary goal of decreasing their payouts and avoiding lawsuits. This means that they will often take advantage of you if they think they can. Working with a personal injury lawyer is a good way to show them that you are serious. Sometimes, something as seemingly innocuous as saying you’re fine when they ask how you are doing can give them leverage to question the extent of your injuries.
Can I update my family and friends through social media?
An experienced personal injury attorney will investigate the accident and the other driver. The insurance company will do the same with you, meaning they will likely review any public posts you have on social media, and they may use them against you. For example, you may know that your brunch outing was the first in weeks, that your friend drove, and you went home immediately after.
Still, if the insurance company can present a convincing alternative, it can give the perception that you are not as injured as you claim or that you are not following your treatment plan. Even if you can show compliance with your treatment plan, public posts may open opposing parties to speculation regarding claims for loss of enjoyment of life or your pain and suffering, which are more subjective.
Fox Injury Law will help you fight to maximize the settlement offer in your personal injury case
If someone else’s negligence has left you injured, you need the support of an experienced personal injury attorney. Our team at Fox Injury Law offers free consultations that you can schedule online or by phone by calling us at (404) 991-6552 to speak with our team and discover your options.
