How To Maximize Your Car Accident Settlement

The aftermath of a car accident is a circumstance like no other. In addition to coping with pain and treating your injuries, you must also deal with the headache of a car accident claim.

Car accidents can take a huge financial toll that affects every area of your life. Yet insurance companies are notorious for undervaluing injury claims, offering a fraction of what you need to compensate for your injuries.

At Beers & Gordon, P.A., we have seen the many ways that car accident victims are under compensated for their injuries or even denied reimbursement altogether. In this article, we’ll show you how to maximize your car accident settlement.

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The Cost of Car Accidents

When most people think of car accidents, the first thing that comes to mind are the injuries involved.

According to the CDC, the average lifetime cost of car accident injuries are between $3,362 (for treated and released patients) and $56,674 (for hospitalized patients). However, medical bills aren’t the only thing you need to worry about after a car accident.

If your injuries are severe enough, you may be unable to work. This lost income can have a significant impact on your financial situation and should be considered when you receive a settlement offer. You also may lose income in the future if you are unable to work in your current position or changes are made to your position due to your injuries. This loss of earning capacity may impact you the remainder of your life.

However, car accidents don’t just come with financial costs; the pain and suffering you endure can be debilitating, drastically impacting your ability to enjoy your life. This may include how you interact with your family and friends, affect your ability to move and exercise, and impact your overall health.

Once you factor in the full cost of a car accident, it’s easy to understand the importance of maximizing your settlement amount!

How To Maximize Your Car Accident Settlement

The good news is that just a few small actions can have a huge impact on your car accident settlement. However, it’s important to remember that these actions have a cumulative effect—the more of these steps you take, the better your results will be.

1. Get Medical Attention ASAP

Seeking medical treatment as soon as possible after your accident is the first step toward maximizing your car accident settlement. The longer you wait to seek medical attention, the more likely it is that your case will be undervalued.
You may be tempted to “tough it out” or see if your injuries get better on their own. However, not seeing a doctor until weeks after your accident sends the message that you weren’t really injured. Most importantly, if you do not treat your injuries within 14 days, you will lose important PIP benefits.

2. Document Your Injuries

The more documentation you have related to your injuries, the easier it will be to ask for compensation.

Start off by calling 911 immediately after your accident to file a police report. Throughout your medical treatment, keep track of any and all documentation related to your injuries (such as medical bills and hospital records) and take photographs of any visible injuries.

It also helps to start a journal to keep track of pain levels, emotional stress, mood swings, relationship difficulties, and any other distress related to the accident.

3. Stay Off Social Media

Clients are always shocked to hear that their social media accounts are being monitored by the insurance company. But trust us, if they have access to your posts, the insurance company will try to use them against you.

For example, if you are asking for compensation for a back injury but post a video of you walking your dog, the insurance company may try to use this as evidence that you are not really injured. The insurance companies will scour social media looking for any opportunity to cast doubt on your claim.

Do your best to stay off social media (or avoid posting anything) until your case is over.

4. Work With an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

Personal injury lawyers are not only familiar with the various aspects of a car accident case, they are able to uncover areas of your life that you may not have realized were affected.

Additionally, they have a vast network of experts who can help establish your claim and maximize your settlement amount. Accident reconstructionists, biomechanical experts, vocational experts, and even economists can help paint a detailed picture of the financial, physical, and emotional consequences of the accident.

While most car accident cases end in settlement, there are many instances when a case must proceed to trial. Because of this, find a Florida car accident lawyer who is an experienced litigator.

5. Don’t Accept the First Offer

As any personal injury attorney can tell you, the insurance company’s first offer is never their best. You can (and should) negotiate with them to arrive at a number that will adequately compensate for your injuries.

For many accident victims, this is one area where having an attorney is well worth it. Plus, personal injury attorneys don’t get paid unless they win your case, so there is nothing to lose (and everything to gain).

You Deserve More

No one deserves to get into a car accident, but having your claim undervalued literally adds insult to injury.

At Beers & Gordon, P.A., we specialize in personal injury cases and have helped thousands of accident victims receive justice and compensation for their injuries. Our attorneys have experience working on behalf of insurance companies, so we are well-versed in the tactics they will use to shortchange you and will tirelessly fight for the compensation you deserve.

If you’ve been injured in an automobile accident, don’t let valuable time slip away. Call the experts at Beers & Gordon today to schedule a free consultation.