Okay. You’ve been in a car accident. It was the other person’s fault. Hopefully the injuries you sustained weren’t too bad. But there was some damage done to your car. Maybe some ongoing therapy or medical treatment is required.
In that situation, you are entitled to legal compensation from the party that caused the accident.
And you may be wondering… how can I get the most money from a car accident?
Well, are there things you can do that will increase the amount of money you’ll get?
Yes! Absolutely.
Keep in mind that the severity of your injury and who was at fault play major roles in how compensation is decided and how much you can get. But there are things that you do after an accident that will affect how much you can get.
So, if you’re interested in getting the most money from a car accident settlement, pay attention to the advice below…
Hire a Top Car Accident Attorney
- You need to call an accident attorney regarding your situation. They should, among other things be able to tell you how much money you are likely to get in compensation. Since each accident is unique, the type of advice you will receive will be specific to your circumstances.
Oh, and make sure that you contact a car accident attorney BEFORE you notify your insurance company or talk to an insurance agent. An insurance agent is not qualified to file a suit on your behalf. Only a personal injury lawyer will protect your interest after the accident. - Many car accident attorneys offer consultations (often these are free) so you can meet with them and discuss your case. Understand that just by requesting a consultation for the first time, you do not enter a lawyer-client relationship. The process of engaging an attorney is more intricate and requires a written commitment on both sides.
Listen to Your Doctor and Keep Excellent Records
- If you’re ever in an accident, it’s important that you call 911 immediately after the accident. Yes, we totally understand there are times when it may not be easy – or even possible – to do so. But the point here is that, after an accident, you or someone around you should make that call as soon as you/they can.
If you have any injuries or are in pain, get treated by the EMTs on the scene and visit the emergency room. After you’ve been treated and are able, you should call your physician. - Let your doctor know of any pains that you are experiencing. Your attorney will need the detailed medical report to use as evidence to lodge any claims.
- Take careful note of the injuries, complaints, and treatments recorded in your medical history record. They will be used by the insurance company in determining how much compensation they are willing to pay.
- Keep a record of all appointments you have with a physician and any other health care provider you see for your injuries. If your health specialist recommends more visits, set those up before you leave their facility.
- Keep up your treatments until you have fully recovered. And make sure you go to your appointments. Skipping out on them will result in a smaller payout for you.
Ultimately, it’s up to your doctors to decide if more treatments are required or not.
Keep in mind, however, that if you fully recover while the legal issues are still going on, the amount of compensation you get may be reduced. So, it’s possible you may need to keep up with your treatments until your case is resolved. - Hopefully your injuries aren’t bad enough that surgery is needed. However, if you do have to go under the knife, it will likely increase the amount of your settlement. Though, no matter how badly you want the money, DO NOT get surgery to get a higher settlement. It’s not worth it.
Third Party Evidence
If your accident is very serious, some (if not most) of the information you will need to determine how much compensation you get will be gathered by the police.
Some of the most important details that you should expect them to record include taking lots of photos from the scene of the accident and the surrounding area. Make sure the information they record is accurate before you sign any accident report. Listen to the statements the other parties involved in the accident give and makes sure they are accurate.
The rule of thumb in an accident situation is to never admit fault and don’t apologize for anything – even if you think you are. Let your lawyer work on the details.
And stay calm when speaking to law enforcement. Their impression of you will make a difference!
Also, write down the names and badge numbers of the officers on the scene and get a copy of the accident report. The insurance company will use that when determining how much compensation they believe you deserve.
It doesn’t hurt to get the contact information for all witnesses on the scene to in case your attorney and/or insurance company need to contact them down the road.
Ultimately, you want to collect as much information about the accident as you can without admitting fault as doing so will negatively impact your compensation. Best to get in touch with an attorney sooner rather than later and let them be your advocate.
Following this advice can help you get the most money from your car accident settlement.
