If you are looking into pursuing a personal injury claim, you might be wondering how you can go about maximizing your personal injury settlement in Roseville. There are many key elements that make up a solid legal claim that results in a full and maximized settlement amount. Whether you are just starting the legal claims process or you are well into a claims process, there are ways to ensure you are going about the personal injury lawsuit correctly.
Steps to Maximize a Personal Injury Settlement
The steps that you take directly following an accident can determine the viability and success of your legal claim. While the moments immediately following an unexpected incident may seem like a challenging time to think critically, it is important to act reasonably and quickly if possible. Below are critical steps you can take following your personal injury event that will set you up for a maximum settlement amount:
- Seek Medical Care Immediately: If you are injured, even if you believe it to be minor, receive medical care immediately. Not only will this protect your health, but it also creates a paper trail that will support the viability and merit of your claim, as medical records can serve as evidence for the injury and need for compensation.
- File a Police Report: Ensure a police report is created, as this is a form of evidence.
- Document the Accident Scene: If you are able, make a record of the accident scene with both photos and videos. These first three steps are not only for your safety but also to support your claim with solid evidence on which to base settlement negotiations.
- Write Down Contact Information: Gather contact information of all parties involved, including names, phone numbers, and other relevant information. If there were any eyewitnesses, gather their contact information as well, as their account of the incident can further support your claim.
- Contact Insurance Company: Many insurance companies stipulate a deadline to file an insurance claim, some as short as 24 hours. If the claim is filed outside of this window, they may deny the claim even if you should be covered. Ensure you contact them as soon as possible to prevent this from happening. Do not admit fault, but rather share the details of the incident and any injuries or damages you sustained.
- Speak With a Local Personal Injury Attorney: Speak with a local personal injury attorney, as they can advise you on the potential steps you can take and how to critically approach seeking a full and fair settlement amount.
Types of Damages You Can Recover Through a Personal Injury Settlement
- Economic Damages: Economic damages include all out-of-pocket expenses that you have suffered as a result of the accident and injury. This includes things like medical bills, costs of transportation to medical appointments, ongoing treatment costs, loss of income, future loss of income, property damage, and more.
- Non-Economic Damages: Non-economic damages are losses that are typically not associated with a specific monetary value but are still severe losses like pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, and more.
- Punitive Damages: Punitive damages are often granted in claims where another party’s intentional and/or egregious action led to your injury. These damages are mainly applicable only in extreme cases. This damage is used as a punishment for the defendant, where they must pay an out-of-pocket amount to the plaintiff for their losses.
FAQs
Q: How Much Are Most Personal Injury Settlements?
A: Most personal injury settlements have a wide range in value, as each personal injury claim is highly unique and individualized based on the circumstances of each case. Personal injury law handles a wide scope of cases, such as car accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability, animal attacks, and more, making the settlement needs from case to case highly varied. Settlements are determined on economic, non-economic, and punitive damages and losses.
Q: How Do You Negotiate a High Settlement Offer?
A: To negotiate a high settlement offer, it is vital to first understand your claim’s unique value. This value is determined by understanding the total loss experienced as a result of the injury or incident. A higher settlement can be negotiated with compelling evidence to support your claim’s value, and a personal injury attorney’s skill can work in your favor to reach a maximized settlement offer. If the settlement offer that is proposed doesn’t cover the losses you have suffered, do not accept the unfair offer.
Q: What Is the Average Payout for a Personal Injury Claim in the US?
A: The average payout for a personal injury claim in the US is highly varied from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and type of personal injury claim. Annually, thousands of individuals pursue legal action to seek justice after a personal injury and each case is highly unique, resulting in different settlement amounts. A personal injury that results in life-long injury or damages will normally yield a much higher settlement amount than an injury that can heal in a matter of months.
Q: How Do Lawyers Negotiate Settlements?
A: Lawyers negotiate settlements by understanding their clients’ cases and the value of their losses, undergoing a thorough investigation where they recover solid evidence to support their clients’ claims. This evidence will be combined with a thorough and detailed negotiation strategy. Competent attorneys will not settle for an unfair amount. If an attorney and their client are happy with the settlement amount offered after negotiations, they will accept and sign a settlement agreement that legally binds all parties to the settlement terms and amount.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Roseville, California Today
If you have suffered a personal injury in Roseville, California, and surrounding areas, you may have the grounds for a personal injury claim to seek justice and recover damages that you have lost. At the Kreeger Law Firm, we desire to see all of our clients return to health and create a safe and sustainable future through the work we can provide. Reach out today to set up a consultation and learn how we can step in and support you.
