How to Get the Most Money From a Car Accident Case
Being in a car accident can be a stressful experience. If you have been in one, click here to learn how to get the most money from a car accident case.
Every year, between 20 and 50 million people get injured in car accidents.
Are you part of this group? Are you looking for compensation for your injuries and/or the damage done to your car?
If this is the case, you’re probably also wondering what you can do to maximize your payout.
Read on to learn how to get the most money from a car accident. You’ll also learn more about the factors that have the biggest influence on your payout.
Factors that Affect Car Accident Payouts
When figuring out how much money to pay someone who was involved in a car accident, insurance providers take a lot of factors into account. The following are some of the most important things they consider when calculating your payout:
Your Statement
One of the first things insurance providers will consider is your statement (or statements) regarding the accident. They’ll compare what you say happened to what others involved in the accident have to say. If it lines up relatively well (there are always some differences), you’ll likely get a better payout.
Evidence
If there’s strong evidence of negligence on another driver’s part, the chances that you’ll get a higher payout increase. Examples of negligence include them hitting your car because they were texting or driving while intoxicated.
Your Injuries
Insurance providers will take your injuries into account, too. They’ll look at the severity of your injuries and what your doctor has to say about the amount of time it’ll take for them to heal, as well as how long it’ll take for you to return to your normal daily activities (if you’re able to return to them at all).
Police Reports
Insurance providers take into consideration what you have to say about the accident. However, they also look into police reports to see if they match up with your account or if the police have any additional evidence that may or may not corroborate your story.
Your Lifestyle
They’ll consider your lifestyle before the accident took place, too. If your lifestyle will have to change in a significant way as a result of the accident (for example, if you have to use a wheelchair or cannot perform your job in the same way), it’s likely that you’ll receive a larger payout.
How to Get the Most Money from a Car Accident
If you want to make sure that the value of your insurance payout lines up with what you need to take care of your injuries, repair your car, and move forward with your life, there are certain steps you can take moving forward.
Here are some essential tips to keep in mind to help you get the most out of your payout:
Write Everything Down
Start by writing everything down about the accident. The sooner you do this, the better. This will help you create a detailed account of the events and ensure you don’t have any gaps in your story.
Seek Medical Care Right Away
Be sure to reach out to a doctor right away (preferably on the day that the accident occurred). Even if you don’t feel like you have any serious injuries, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. If you wait, it’ll be harder to prove that any symptoms you experience are the result of the car accident and not something else.
Establish a Relationship with Your Doctor
Do your best to establish a relationship with the doctor who cares for you after your accident. They’ll be an important ally when it comes to explaining the extent of your injuries and convincing the insurance company that you require a certain payout to cover them.
Keep all your appointments with this doctor, too. Missed appointments indicate that your injuries are not as serious as you may say.
Have Work Absences Excused
If you have to take time off from work, be sure to have those absences excused by your doctor. Ask them to write a note saying that your injuries are preventing you from working and keep a copy of that note for the insurance company to verify.
Take Pictures
Take pictures of your injuries as soon as they occur. Make sure they’re time-stamped, too. That way, you’ll be able to prove that they’re the result of your accident and aren’t from something else.
Speak with an Attorney
It’s always best to work with a car accident attorney if you want to get the highest payout possible. In many cases, just knowing the you’ve hired an attorney is enough for insurance providers to give you a better payout.
Be Honest
You need to tell your story and impress upon insurance providers and attorneys the extent of your injuries and the damages to your car.
However, don’t get carried away. If it turns out that you’ve exaggerated the severity of the situation to try and get more money, things aren’t going to work out in your favor.
Be Patient
Remember to be patient, too. Sometimes, it takes a while for insurance providers to determine your payout.
Your attorney may have to go back and forth with them for a while to ensure you receive a fair payment, too. Trust that your attorney is doing what’s best for you and be patient with the process.
Get What You’re Owed Today
As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into determining a person’s payout after they’ve been involved in an accident.
If you’re been wondering how to get the most money from a car accident, hopefully, this information has put things in perspective for you and given you some insight into what you can do to get the greatest amount of money possible.
Do you want to learn more about handling life after a car accident? If so, don’t forget to visit the other accident-related blog posts on our site today.