Are you maximizing the value of your auto accident settlement? When you’re injured in a car accident, you get one shot to collect the full and fair compensation you deserve.
After the window of opportunity closes, the law won’t allow you to go back and negotiate a new deal later. Here’s how to gain the highest possible value from your Michigan auto accident settlement.
Seek Medical Treatment Immediately After the Accident
You must seek medical attention immediately after you’re injured. Any delay in pursuing medical treatment puts your health and your legal case at risk. A valuable auto accident settlement is built on a solid foundation of medical records and bills showing the direct connection between the accident and your injuries.
In the recovery period after your accident, carefully follow your doctor’s orders. Keep a journal detailing your treatment plan, your daily struggles, and your long, difficult road to recovery. This helps everyone involved in your case understand how much the accident is impacting your life.
Determine the Best Path to Maximum Auto Accident Settlement Value
As you weigh your options after the accident, keep in mind that people who hire accident lawyers tend to have better outcomes than those who handle it alone. One study found that people with lawyers secured 3.5 times more money than those who handled their own cases.
It’s also important to understand the difference between going to court for a lawsuit vs. arranging a car accident settlement. A lawsuit may need to go through the entire legal process, including making an in-person appearance in court. You’ll need an experienced Detroit-area lawyer with plenty of courtroom experience.
By contrast, in an auto accident settlement, there’s no need to set foot in court. Your lawyer uses their diplomacy skills and legal expertise to negotiate an agreement between all parties. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that almost 95% of all personal injury cases are resolved through these types of settlements compared to just 4% to 5% involving court battles.
Your car accident lawyer may also be able to negotiate with your medical providers and insurance company to eliminate and lower most of your bills, reducing your total owed. As a result, you could end up with more money in your pocket.
Take Photos and Gather Evidence
In the chaos after the accident, many injured people forget to gather evidence from the scene of the accident or are too injured to do so. Do as much as you can to protect and preserve vital evidence that will support your accident claim.
Take photos and videos of the accident scene. Request contact information from witnesses who saw what happened. Talk to the responding officer about getting a copy of the police report.
Your lawyer can help you round out your evidence with expert testimony, public records, and other documentation. More evidence is more likely to lead to a better outcome, especially if it shows the other person is clearly at fault.
Avoid Doing and Saying Things to Harm Your Case
Any personal injury lawyer can tell you it’s best to avoid saying things that could harm the value of your case. Talk to your lawyer before making decisions or statements that could limit your options for maximum compensation.
- Don’t share photos or information about your accident on social media.
- Don’t give out your personal information, including your social security number.
- Don’t sign documents.
- Don’t use the insurance claims portal.
- When in doubt, ask your lawyer.
Consider All Economic and Non-Economic Damages
Typical car accident settlement amounts vary from a few thousand dollars to many millions of dollars. The total value of your claim depends on the details of your case and many factors that influence whether your case value goes up or down.
When calculating your full auto accident settlement value, include both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are tangible financial values like your lost wages, the cost of medical bills, and how much your wrecked car is worth.
Non-economic damages account for the damage to your lifestyle and relationships. Make sure you’re including the value of your pain and suffering, which is explained in more detail below.
Add the Proper Value of Your Pain and Suffering
Michigan allows compensation for a person’s pain and suffering due to being injured in an accident. Collecting pain and suffering damages can help you cope with the trauma of the accident and provide extra financial support as you recover from your injuries.
Do you have new aches, pains, scars, frustrations, depression, or anger? Are you experiencing an overall loss of life enjoyment? Are your relationships fractured and difficult since the accident? You deserve compensation for these losses.
An attorney can help you claim compensation up to the maximum Michigan caps for economic and non-economic damages. You might be surprised to learn that Michigan allows you to recover pain and suffering damages accounting for the duration of your life if the accident will have a permanent effect on you.
Maximize Your Car Accident Settlement With Lee Steinberg Law Firm
After an auto accident, the right Michigan car accident lawyer helps you build your case and make it as strong as possible. Every bit of evidence and legal wisdom adds to your odds of claiming the maximum case value.
Request a free consultation about your accident and learn how high your case value could be. At The Lee Steinberg Law Firm, we offer these free consultations as a courtesy to injured people who deserve answers after being injured in Michigan auto accidents.
Our Detroit accident lawyers will help you stop worrying about the legal details and plan a better future. Please contact the Lee Steinberg Law Firm today at 1-800-LEE-FREE or use our free online consultation form to get in touch with a qualified, experienced lawyer nearest to you in Michigan. You’ll receive an evaluation of your case entirely free of charge. We’re here to help you!
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