Personal injury victims often wonder if they are being treated fairly when the insurance company for the responsible party offers a settlement. They want to know the value of their case before accepting or rejecting the settlement. However, there is no single answer to this question. Several factors contribute to the amount a person may receive. Furthermore, victims can influence the value of their case by taking specific actions.
What is Fair Compensation?
Victims must understand the concept of fair compensation when talking to injury law attorneys. Fair compensation should reimburse the victim for all expenses incurred related to the accident, including indirect costs. For example, a person might not be able to clean the home because their injuries are too severe. An experienced attorney will include the cost of professional cleaning services in the settlement offer to ensure their client isn’t required to pay a bill they wouldn’t have incurred if not for the accident. However, the victim must take specific steps to strengthen their case.
Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Victims should seek medical attention immediately following the action to document all visits. Insurance companies and courts want proof that the individual was injured in the accident. Medical professionals can also provide information about the expected duration of the recovery process, any future care the victim may require, and how the injuries will impact this person’s life. Seeking medical attention allows the doctor to connect the injuries with the accident definitively.
Follow All Treatment Recommendations
Victims must follow all treatment recommendations. Don’t stop with treatment simply because the recovery process is moving along. Insurance companies often monitor victims to ensure they are complying with treatment recommendations. If they aren’t, the insurance companies claim the injuries aren’t as bad as the victim is stating. They will argue that the treatment is obviously unnecessary, and therefore, they should not have to pay.
Avoid Posting on Social Media
A person should never post anything related to the accident, their injuries, or their treatment on social media. Insurance companies also monitor victims’ social media accounts to see if they are posting pictures that could dispute their claims of being injured. Statements made on these sites might also be used against victims, so it is best to remain quiet regarding the accident. Digital evidence is commonly used today, and a single social media post could be the downfall of a victim’s case.
Personal Impact
Victims should document the personal impact the accident has had on their lives. This record plays a role in determining non-economic damages in the personal injury case. When writing about this impact, the victim should talk about the things they are no longer able to do because of their injuries and how this has made them feel. Juries appreciate having this information when they attempt to determine a fair settlement amount. Don’t make the mistake of focusing solely on the physical injuries, as the emotional and psychological impact of the accident can be just as devastating.
Insurance companies often employ delay tactics in the hope that a victim will simply give up and abandon their case. Victims must be patient to get a fair settlement. Work with an attorney to ensure the insurance company understands that any delays could ultimately result in higher costs for them. When insurers learn that attorneys are involved, they are more likely to offer a fair settlement quickly to avoid a lengthy, drawn-out court battle that could cost significantly more than a fair settlement. The victim is the one who benefits from this rapid settlement.
