Being injured in a car accident is one of the most stressful and traumatic things that a person will experience. Another stress-inducing aspect of car accidents is when it comes time to speak with the insurance adjuster and negotiate on the best settlement number. How do you arrive at the perfect amount of compensation for your damages? How will you know that it’s enough to cover the aspects it needs to?

Arriving at the right settlement number with the insurance company might be an extensive and complex process that involves back-and-forth negotiations. It is the job of the insurance company to offer you as little as possible. This is why you should never accept the first offer that they throw at you and why you should have an experienced and knowledgeable legal attorney on your side through the process.

Working Toward the Best Car Accident Settlement

Speak with an Attorney: After you receive your first offer from the insurance company, you should have an idea in mind of the attorney that you want to work with. A knowledgeable attorney with the right resources will be able to help present the version of events from your point of view, negotiate your settlement offer, and advise you of the best decisions to make along the way. An insurance adjuster will take your claim more seriously if you are working with an attorney, which will increase your chances of a better outcome. 

Provide Attorney with Documentation: Your case will be stronger when you have more documentation that can back up what you have told your attorney. The costs of treating your injuries, such as lost wages and your ability to work and pain and suffering damages, are incredibly important and should always be considered. Always record everything from the medical bills you receive down to the financial costs of the equipment you now need around your home. 

Consider Emotional Distress: You must be able to show quantifiable losses of your emotional distress if you hope to gain compensation for these damages. You should not only receive medical care for your physical injuries but also for your emotional injuries as well. An accident can very easily become traumatizing and you have a right to these aspects.

Negotiate First Offers: An attorney will always tell you to never accept the first insurance offer that is made. A settlement should continue onward with the negotiation so that you do not receive too little for your damages. Have a minimum amount in your mind that you are willing to accept and don’t accept less. 

Justification of Offer: Insurance companies typically low-ball victims of accidents, which is why you should always have the adjuster justify their offer to you. If you feel as if their offer was unreasonable, you should get them to explain how they arrived at that amount.

How a Car Accident Attorney Can Assist You 

You might feel tempted to accept the first offer that comes from the insurance company after you have been injured. However, in doing so, it will become apparent that you will not receive enough to help you through all of the damages caused by your injuries. This is why it is important that you speak with a Florida car accident attorney at Sheftall & Associates as soon as possible. We understand how difficult the aftermath of a car accident can be and will offer our support to you as you bring a personal injury claim. Please contact a Florida accident attorney at (904) 575-9026 for more information on your options moving forward at this time.