Apart from the physical pain and suffering that comes after a car accident, victims also have to face an uphill task to get a fair financial settlement for the injuries and property damages incurred. Since most of the time, injuries are severe, it confines victims to bed and takes weeks and months in recovery.
The cost of ongoing medical treatment and loss of income due to missed days at work are financially crippling. And because of all this, victims can’t afford to accept a low-ball offer from insurance companies.
Contact us if you or a loved one has been in a car accident in North Carolina and wants to investigate your options for total and fair compensation. Our auto accident lawyer has the experience, knowledge, and expertise to pursue fair compensation and fight for you to get the maximum claim amount for your situation.
Drawing from our experience, here are some steps that you should follow to try to maximize your car accident settlement:
Take Photos of the Accident Scene
After a car accident, if you’re in a position to move and while you wait for the ambulance to arrive to take you to the hospital, utilize that time to take photos of the accident scene. Use your smartphone to take pictures of the accident location, intersections, vehicle parts, broken glass, traffic signal, skid marks, and anything that you think might help you justify your claim.
Also, it is advisable to take photos of the environment and weather conditions, as they can contribute to the collision. These photographs will serve as crucial elements in proving your claim, thereby strengthening your argument for the maximum amount in compensation.
Seek Medical Help and Get a Proper Diagnosis Done
Seek medical help immediately and make sure that the doctor makes a complete diagnosis of your injuries. This will help your claim significantly if you can prove that all the injuries you have reported resulted from the accident. And since your injuries are diagnosed and written in the report by a medical expert, it will give your case and claim more authenticity.
Failure to report all your injuries right away may put the adjuster in a strong position. They may fight back, stating that the injuries diagnosed later after a few days after the car accident may be due to some other accident. This is one thing that you need to be careful about if you want to maximize your car accident settlement.
Keep Day-by-Day Diary
Since memories fade with time and car accident settlement can take months to resolve, it is advisable to keep a day-by-day diary. And besides this, sometimes accident victims may also suffer amnesia or loss of consciousness for a period and can’t recall everything. When filing a claim, you’ll need details on how long you have been in pain with a specific injury. If you’ve suffered multiple injuries, it can be hard to remember details about all the injuries. So, keep a daily journal. Write down everything you feel and how the injuries have affected your life, pain, and suffering.
Therefore, when you have a written account, it will help show how the accident affects you. These details can further help back up your settlement claim amount. However, when writing a diary, try to keep it honest. This will serve as a valuable tool in your case.
Keep Bills and Receipts in One Place
Let say you file a claim for $350,000 in medical expenditures; you will need to provide written proof because the judge or the insurance company will not take your word for it. You will, therefore, need bills and receipts.
Make sure to keep receipts for all expenses such as:
- Medical Bills
- Rental Cars
- Taxi Service
- Towing Costs
If the accident made it difficult for you to take care of your children, then childcare costs may also be reimbursed, so get a receipt. This also applies to housekeeping.
Moreover, if your injuries made you take time off from work, get copies of your salary slip to show your income loss. Put simply; keep a record of all the bills and receipts related to your accident or injuries in any way possible. All this will help you to pursue the maximum claim amount.
Stay Under Proper Medical Care Until You Recover Completely
To avoid the medical cost, many people try to discharge fast by claiming that they are fine. However, if you don’t get proper medical care, you may never recover completely. So, it is recommended that you stay under medical care regardless of the cost and until the doctor releases you.
Remember that insurance companies see doctors as experts, and thus, doctors are a great asset in assisting your case. By not obeying your doctor’s orders, you risk developing complications and losing out on much-needed compensation. The last thing you want is to get discharged on request and later experience complications that can be costly but are not covered by the insurance company. The insurer may state that the complications are not associated with the injuries that resulted from the accident.
For more information on how to try to maximize your car accident settlement or legal assistance, contact us today.
Allow our experienced auto accident lawyer in North Carolina to review your case and provide you with legal guidance and assistance to pursue the maximum claim amount efficiently and smoothly.
At the Law Office of Jason E. Taylor P.C., numerous clients get maximum compensation for their cases. Let us see if we can help you too. Our goal is to help you get the compensation that you’re entitled to.