What To Keep In Mind With A Personal Injury Settlement
Posted on: 22 September 2022
If a careless driver has caused you injuries, you are probably owed monetary compensation. Being paid what you deserve is a key consideration. It's important to understand how settlement offers work so that you won't be taken advantage of.
They Will Call on You
Once the other side decides that their driver was at fault, you may be contacted by the other driver's insurance adjuster. They will probably offer you a settlement based on your answers to a few questions. Unfortunately, you should not be speaking to the other side's insurer. They are not likely to offer you as much as you deserve, and they could use your answers against you later. Once you sign on the dotted line, it's too late to reconsider. When the other side tries to contact you, give them your personal injury lawyer's contact information.
They may tell you various things to make you agree to a settlement. One technique is to tell you that you won't get another offer if you don't accept this one. That is not the case. Don't be pressured into anything and speak to a lawyer right away.
Get a Lawyer
If you have been hurt by another driver, you need a lawyer. That way, they can look out for your best interests in the case. Your lawyer won't allow you to be tricked into accepting a small settlement. They will help you know how much money you should be paid and will work with the other side to help you attain that money.
Understand the Importance of Medical Costs
Medical treatment costs are sometimes the most expensive part of a settlement. That money, however, doesn't go to the victim directly. The money for medical treatment costs is paid to the ambulance service, the emergency room, the hospital, the lab, radiology, and more. Never accept a settlement right after an accident because you have no way of knowing how much more medical treatment you will need later.
For example, some injuries are such that you must wait to have additional surgeries later. Or you might have an injury that needs additional treatment in six months. You can be paid for all your medical treatment costs, but you must be careful. Your personal injury lawyer will take your future needs into consideration when asking for a settlement so that your future needs are covered. This sometimes means waiting a bit longer so that the full scope of your medical needs can be known, however.
To find out more about accident settlements, speak to a personal injury law firm, such as Bangel, Bangel & Bangel.
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