5 Factors That Can Improve Your Settlement Amount

First published 23rd October 2023 Samantha Khu

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Accidents cripple victims’ ability to have fun in life. It causes way too many losses to victims. Accident victims will face both economic and non-economic losses.

The following are some of the losses that an accident victim will face:

Medical expenses
Loss of income
Property repair costs
Pain and suffering
Reputation loss
Disfigurement
Loss of companionship

The above losses have the potential to completely ruin a person’s life emotionally, physically, and financially. Personal injury lawyers can help you recover from these losses by acquiring compensation from the at-fault party. They do this by filing a personal injury claim.

Victims can recover compensation for their losses through a personal injury claim. The compensation they receive depends on many factors. Following are some of the factors that influence the settlement amount:

Prompt Medical Care
Hiring a Lawyer
Strong Evidence
Punitive Damages
Negotiation

Prompt Medical Care

Seeking medical attention following an accident is both basic and a necessity. Some major injuries don’t show symptoms for a long time. By the time you realize you have a major injury, it will be too late.

By going to a doctor, you can examine the severity of your injuries, which will improve your settlement amount. Also, not getting prompt medical attention just gives insurance companies an opportunity to reduce your compensation.
They will reduce your compensation by claiming that you intentionally made your injuries worse by not getting prompt medical care.

Hiring a Lawyer

The best way to improve your settlement amount is by hiring a lawyer. An experienced personal injury lawyer helps you in the following ways:

Investigate the case
Collect evidence
Calculate losses
Negotiate with the insurance company
Protection from insurance adjusters
Taking the case to court if needed

Insurance companies will take advantage of victims who don’t have legal representation. Without a lawyer, you may not know the full extent of your losses either.

You can calculate economic losses on your own, but it is not easy to calculate non-economic losses. For that, the expertise of an experienced lawyer is required.

Strong Evidence

Evidence plays a crucial role when it comes to claiming compensation. The victim bears the burden of proof in personal injury cases. It means you have to prove your case by providing substantial evidence.

Photos and videos of the accident site, your injuries, and property damages are strong evidence that can help your case to a great extent. You can also collect evidence like medical bills and receipts for other expenses. This can prove the extent of your losses, which can improve your settlement.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are awarded in rare cases, but it can significantly boost your settlement amount. It is awarded in cases in which the actions of the defendant are found particularly egregious.

Punitive damages are awarded by the judges to punish the defendant rather than compensate the victim. Regardless of the reason for issuing punitive damage, it can significantly improve your settlement amount.

Negotiation

Insurance companies will make an offer following the accident. Accepting that offer might be the worst decision you can make. If you accept what they offer, you will get less than what you deserve.

Negotiating with the insurance company is a great way to improve your settlement. A personal injury lawyer can help with this. To be honest, only they can help you with this. They know the strategies an insurance agency will use to reduce the settlement and can counter them effectively.

Final Thoughts

The actions you take following the accident are very important since every single move has a direct/indirect impact on your compensation. Even a minor mistake can reduce your compensation. A lawyer helps you avoid mistakes and obtain fair compensation.