If you have been injured in a collision and are wondering, “how do I get the most money from a car accident?” hiring the best personal injury lawyer will increase your ability to get the money you deserve. Injuries sustained in a car accident can be life-altering on multiple levels. Between medical bills, lost wages, and insurance companies, getting back to normal or a new normal can be a challenge and difficult.
The biggest obstacle in being awarded the money you deserve will come from the insurance company. Insurance companies are in the business of making money, not providing the victims of their policyholder’s negligence the money they deserve after an accident. Initial injury settlements for car accidents are routinely low and never enough to fully compensate people for their expenses and other related damages. If you are a victim of such negligence, it is in your best interest to hire a personal injury lawyer to ensure you receive the highest possible compensation for your injuries after an accident.
In order to get the most money from a car accident, your personal injury lawyer will rely on you to provide him or her with as much information as possible about the accident. After an accident then, it is in your own self-interest to compile as much evidence as you can to support your case. If you are physically able to do so, compile as much evidence as you can at the accident scene. Call the police, in Maine it’s the law, and a report will establish the time, date, and location of the accident. Exchange vehicle information including license plate numbers. Use your cell phone to take pictures of the accident scene and any visible damage. Get eye witness contact information, if available. Finally, even in minor accidents, do not refuse medical care if offered and visit your doctor as soon as you can after. Your body’s reaction to an injury may take hours or even days to surface. Evidence would include all the medical records related to the accident—emergency room, doctor’s office, and physical therapy, etc.
Keep in mind that in the aftermath of a car accident, even if you are not at fault, you will be held accountable for everything you do and say. Do not give the insurance company a reason to deny or lower compensation or argue your injuries weren’t caused by the accident.
Learn more about how to get the most money for a car accident here:
How Do I Get the Most Out of My Claim?
How Do I Get the Most Out of My Personal Injury Claim?
Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney will ensure you are paid the maximum amount of compensation you deserve for the injuries you have sustained. The position you are in is due to someone else’s negligence. In the aftermath of an accident, recovering from injuries means loss of wages and no income. As such, in addition to the stress of an accident is an inordinate amount of financial stress brought on by the accident. It’s not just the loss of wages, but the high cost of medical treatment, care, and therapy. What savings you may have is or will become depleted—if you don’t take action. Insurance companies are fully aware that you are vulnerable, confused, frustrated, and susceptible to any offer. Never agree or accept the first offer to settle with an insurance company. In your best interest, meet with an experienced personal injury attorney first for a free consultation. Decades of experience is knowing when to settle your injury claim out of court but also known to take the case to court.
Is it Easier to Just Settle My Case Out of Court?
Should I Settle or Go to Trial?
An experienced personal injury lawyer will advise on the pros and cons of settling your claim or proceeding to court with it. Reaching a settlement is in each party’s interest. It will save time and it guarantees compensation for your injuries, and your compensation is generally awarded within 30 days. It also allows you to control the outcome without having to relive the emotional trauma of your ordeal again, and get back to a routine. On the other hand, going to trial may result in greater compensation for you, with additional punitive damages for emotional and post-traumatic stress, which is common after serious accidents.
Trials also bring a sense of closure and public accountability for the wrong done to you. On the downside, there is a risk of uncertainty for full compensation. Trials are lengthy, a matter of public record, and expensive. You must also be able to prove negligence in legal terms under Maine’s comparative fault system. First, though it may seem obvious, you will still have to prove you were less than 50 percent responsible for the accident that caused your personal injury, and then compensation will be determined by that percentage of responsibility. An experienced personal injury attorney will help you decide on which course is best to follow.
I Feel Bad Filing a Lawsuit; I’m Not Trying to Be Sue-Happy
Why Filing a Claim is the Right Thing to Do
Though the idea of filing a claim or even going to court may make you feel anxious, hesitant, or uneasy for any number of reasons, doing nothing or accepting your fate will likely lead to years of emotional, physical, and financial stress. Most accidents may be unintentional, but they are still caused by negligence. If you are injured due to negligence, then you owe it to yourself to seek legal advice from a personal injury lawyer to determine if you should file a claim.
A personal injury lawyer will negotiate on your behalf for you to receive the money you have every right to and justly deserve. With over four decades of experience, the lawyers at Hardy Wolf & Downing will advocate on your behalf to make certain you receive the maximum compensation you deserve for your personal injury claim.