Negotiating with your insurance company can be tough, especially when you’re in shock after a car accident. Many things can go wrong when communicating with your insurer. In other words, a lot of bucks can be lost as a result of a negotiation that goes wrong. While obviously you don’t want to be tricked by your insurance company, it’s vital to do these five tricks when negotiating to get the absolute best settlement after a car accident.
#1: How much do you want?
You need to assess how much damage has been done to you, your vehicle and your other property in a car accident in order to know how much money your claim is worth. After all, you don’t rob a bank when a get-away car has a flat tire. Negotiating with an insurance agent without knowing how much money you want is the same as setting yourself up for failure.
Seek help from an experienced Los Angeles car accident attorney to determine the full cost of your damages, including vehicle repair bills, medical bills, lost wages and earning capacity and more.
#2: Don’t accept initial settlement offer unless it’s good
A lot people who get into car accidents make the mistake of accepting an initial settlement offer immediately, without actually assessing the damage. That’s why it’s important to know your minimum. And no matter how convincing your insurer may be, never accept a settlement offer unless you’ve checked that it’s actually good.
Consult a Los Angeles car accident lawyer about whether the settlement offer you’re being offered is acceptable to you or not.
#3: Let your attorney control the negotiation process
Any insurance company that is trying to minimize the compensation paid to you may turn a blind eye to certain details of your case. For example, an insurer may ignore some evidence in your case, like your latest medical evaluation, which could significantly increase your chances of negotiating a fair settlement offer.
That’s why it’s vital to let your car accident attorney to do all the talking and control the negotiation process.
#4: Document… everything
Literally everything. The more evidence you collect at the scene of the car accident and during the negotiations process, the higher your chances of obtaining a fair settlement. It’s true for any case, be it wrongful termination or age discrimination, that could potentially go to court.
That means: medical bills, prescriptions, police reports, all photos from the scene of the car accident, notes, copies, letters, recordings… Collect it, keep it and then (if necessary) present it as evidence.
#5: Launch an independent investigation of your case
While it may be tempting to let your insurance company conduct their own investigation of the car accident, don’t make this rookie mistake. An insurance company’s investigation is most of the times biased against you. Only a car accident attorney is acting in your best interests and can launch an independent investigation to maximize your compensation.
Call experienced car accident attorney at JML Law to get a free initial consultation about your particular case. Getting a well-versed lawyer who has handled hundreds of car accident cases equals to a success rate of 95%.
Call the Los Angeles offices today at 818-835-5735 or send us an email. And remember: we don’t get paid unless you reach a fair settlement.
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