Tips For Settling A Motor Vehicle Accident Lawsuit
Were you the victim of an auto accident that wasn't your fault, and now you're stuck with bills for your medical and personal property damages? If so, it will help to know some tips for settling a motor vehicle accident lawsuit.
Get Your Medical Records And Bills
It's important that you get a copy of all your medical records and the bills for the services performed. You are going to need these to prove the extent of your injury and the money you spent out of your own pocket. This can be done by contacting the hospitals and doctors that you visited and requesting this information, which they will be able to provide to you.
Document Any Lost Wages
You can recover money for lost wages, but you need to prove it to your employer. You'll need to document all your lost wages so that you can verify how much money you actually lost. This is easy as a salaried employee, as your wages are based on an average of how many days you work in a year. However, hourly workers are a bit different. You'll need to show documentation proving how many hours you work each week, figure out an average, and show how that applies to the days you were hospitalized.
Use A Lawyer To Create A Demand Letter
With information about your medical bills and lost wages, you can work with a lawyer to create a demand letter. This spells out exactly how much money you are requesting, and the justification for why you are requesting it. This letter is sent to the insurance provider of the responsible party since they are going to be the one you are attempting to settle with.
Negotiate With The Insurance Provider
Expect to go through a negotiation process with the insurance provider. They are likely going to make a counteroffer for less than what you asked for because they want to pay as little as possible. You'll need to work with a lawyer to counteroffer and hopefully reach an agreed-upon settlement. You should only agree to a settlement offer once you are happy with what you are receiving, as you cannot go back and ask for more money if you have unexpected medical bills down the road.
If you cannot reach a settlement with the insurance provider, then you'll need to take your case to court. This is when a judge is going to make the decision and take it out of your hands—they will award you what they feel is fair based on the evidence presented.
Reach out to a car accident lawyer to find out more.