Getting money from insurance companies can be a tough task because no one wants to lose money, neither do insurance companies. So anytime there is a personal injury case where the insurance company has to shell out some money for the victim, they are going to try and minimise the settlement money for obvious reasons.
Insurance companies take advantage of the desperate and urgent circumstances of a victim of a personal injury case and offer the minimum amount. But this is where the victims need to be patient, smart and take legal help on how to respond to a low personal injury claim settlement offer. There are several aspects and factors that play a role in claim settlement cases. Here are five factors that play a role and influence a hefty personal injury settlement offer.
1. Evidence
Proof or evidence of the extent of your personal injury is going to play a very major role in helping the jury decide what should be the adequate compensation for your losses. Evidence would include photographs of the accident and the injuries caused due to it. Get the contact details of all the witnesses for claim case purposes. You should also get a copy of the police report for your lawyer if you reported the accident to the police and they filed a report.
2. Medical Assistance
Getting a fair amount of compensation for your damages will require an accurate account of the injuries cause by the accident and the treatment you took or will take for the injuries. So make sure you visit a doctor who will correctly document your injuries and give a report of the treatment required for the injuries caused due to the accident. You should see a medical professional even if you’re unsure of the extent of your injuries and follow whatever medical advice and treatment the doctor prescribes you. Taking medical assistance and treatment will make the insurance company liable to give you a higher amount as compensation.
3. Don’t Settle For Less
The first offer of an insurance company is usually way less than the net worth of the damage done to you. So never accept the first offer and don’t seem too eager to want the cheque in your hands. You shouldn’t settle for less than what you deserve in a personal injury settlement case. You should work with your personal injury attorney to fight the battle of settlement at a low amount. Feel free to reject the first couple of offers and let the insurance company know that you’re ready to fight this out to get what you deserve. The insurance company will know that you aren’t one who’s going to settle and will get more serious about offering you a higher amount.
4. Ask For a Justification of a Low Offer
Upon receiving a low settlement offer, you can challenge the insurance company regarding their low offer. Put your case forward with all the documentation and proof and tell them why you deserve a higher amount and ask them to justify their low amount. The insurance company will know that you are not one to go down with a small amount without a battle. Seeing a determined contender will make the insurance company think about their low settlement offer.
5. Future Damages
When demanding a high compensation amount, it’s also important to consider how the damages have affected your future as well. While including the immediate injuries and damages done by the accident, you must also add the effect of this accident on your future life as future damages and include that in the amount to get a higher compensation.
Conclusion
It can get very confusing and difficult to challenge an insurance company, keeping all these factors in mind and making a strong case of compensation. So make sure that you hire a personal injury attorney who will be able to deal with such cases and get you the right compensation that you deserve.
