After a serious car accident, the insurance company for the at-fault driver is supposed to pay the accident-related expenses of the victim. They should offer a large enough settlement to cover all of the expenses from the accident, but this is rarely what happens. Instead, a person will want to make sure they contact a lawyer so they can be sure the settlement they receive is going to be large enough they are not financially impacted by the accident.
Determine the Amount of Compensation
The first thing that should be done is to determine the amount of compensation. The attorney is going to base this on all of the expenses the person has from the accident, including medical bills, lost wages, vehicle repair or replacement, and repair or replacement of anything else damaged in the accident. They can then add on predicted amounts for medical bills or other expenses the person might have in the future because of the accident.
Compare the Amount to the Settlement
Once the attorney has determined how much the person should receive, they’ll compare it to any settlement offer provided by the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Often, the settlement offer is going to be much lower than the amount the person should receive. This is because the insurance company will want to pay out the lowest amount possible to avoid paying too much for a single accident.
Negotiations or Court
The next step is going to be to negotiate a higher settlement amount with the insurance company. Often, this will be enough for the person to receive an adequate settlement. If negotiations do not work out, the lawyer can then take the case to court. At this point, a judge will determine whether the person should receive compensation and, if so, how much they should receive.
If you’ve been seriously injured in a car accident and you were not at fault, make sure you get the help you need. An auto accident attorney is going to do as much as possible to help you obtain a higher settlement so you don’t have to pay any of the accident-related expenses out of pocket. Contact an attorney today to learn more.
