If you've been hurt through no fault of your own in a car wreck, you are owed compensation. You may not need to go to court if the other side offers you a settlement. A settlement means money, and getting it this way is quicker than taking a case to court; however, you must know two things:
1. what your case is worth
2. how to get what you deserve
Read on to find out about both of these vital facets of seeking a personal injury settlement.
What is your case worth?
You can place a specific dollar amount on every aspect of your losses to determine the value of your personal injury case. You can expect to be paid for the following losses, in most cases:
1. Medical expenses: From the moment you are attended to by emergency personnel to far into the future for any predicted medical needs your expenses should be paid. The total dollar amount spent (or billed) so far including estimations of future needs forms this damage amount.
2. Lost personal property: You need your car to get around and there's no reason you should be inconvenienced due to someone else's careless actions. You are also entitled to be paid for any lost or damaged items like clothing and cell phones.
3. Lost wages: If you were injured and had to go to the hospital, then you likely missed work so keep up with your lost time and expect to be reimbursed for it.
4. Pain and suffering: Know the dollar amount of your medical expenses and the seriousness of your accident to come up with an estimate and speak to your personal injury lawyer for help with this number.
How to get what you deserve
Your attorney will attempt to open the floor to negotiations by sending the other side a letter that explains your case. This letter lists a summary of your evidence, your medical expenses, how the accident was not your fault and a dollar figure that you are "demanding" to be paid. Since neither side really wants to take the case to court your demands could be met or it could begin negotiations.
In some cases, you will receive an offer from the other side that is far from your demand but don't let this discourage you. Things are just getting started and you might be surprised at the number of accident victims that jump at this "low-ball offer" just to get some fast cash. You and your lawyer should agree upon a bottom-line amount you will accept (it will be lower than your demand amount) and know when to be flexible. For example, if it looks like you might share some of the fault for the accident then you may need to lower your bottom-line number to account for that.
This part of the process can be stressful, but you can count on your personal injury attorney to get the best deal possible for your particular circumstances.
