3 Tips That Will Help You Negotiate A Settlement After A Car Accident
Posted on: 23 May 2018
After you are involved in a car accident and the other party was found at fault, you are going to need to work with the other party's insurance to come to a settlement agreement for fixing the damage to your vehicle, paying your medical bills, and getting refunded for any wages that you might have lost after the accident. Before you pick up the phone to speak with the other driver's insurance agent, make sure you arm yourself with a few tips that will help you through the process:
#1 Hire an Attorney
If only your vehicle was damaged, you might be able to navigate the settlement negotiations on your own; however, if you were injured and are looking for a settlement to cover medical bills and lost wages in addition to the damage to your vehicle, you are going to want to hire an attorney to assist you with this process. A personal injury attorney can help with the added complexity that an injury brings to a settlement case.
#2 Don't Accept the First Offer
As a general rule of thumb, the first offer the insurance company is going to make you will be a low-ball offer that they are just hoping you will accept to save them some money. They expect you to come back to the table with a higher number. Do not take the first settlement amount offered to you; always tell them you will get back to them, and then work with your attorney to draft a counter-offer.
#3 Create a Detailed Counter-Offer
When you make a counter-offer, don't just throw any number out there. Work with your attorney to come up with a counter-offer that will take care of all of your needs and provide you with a little cushion for negotiating.
Use informed information to come up with a counter-offer. Have an auto body shop give you an estimate for fixing your vehicle, or research the value of your car if it was totaled. Add up all of your medical bills and figure out if you will have any future medical expenses as a result of the accident. Document the way that your injuries have impacted your life, and be sure to include the police report from the accident as well. The more details you have to back up your counter-offer, the more likely you are going to be granted your counter-offer.
When it comes to getting a fair settlement following a car accident, hire an attorney to help you with the settlement offer and never accept the first offer you are given; always come back to the table with a counter-offer.
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