After suffering devastating injuries caused by the reckless or irresponsible actions of another, navigating the complex world of tort claims and insurance negotiations may be the last thing you want to have to handle. Fortunately, your dedicated California personal injury lawyer with Moody Law can manage all the legal details while you heal and start to rebuild your life. However, you still want to be sure that your advocate is doing everything possible to maximize your payout.
Figuring out how to increase personal injury settlements is our top priority. Our team will carefully consider the factors that have the greatest impact on the value of your claim, such as having valuable supporting evidence, proving liability and fault, and clearly demonstrating how your life has been turned upside down by your traumatic injuries. While we can handle the legalities of your case, there are some ways you can help your lawyer build the strongest case possible and increase your settlement value after an accident in California.
You Can Increase Your Settlement Value Immediately After the Accident
Figuring out how to get more money from your personal injury claim does not need to be overwhelming when you have a team of knowledgeable and experienced personal injury lawyers with Moody Law handling your claim. In the aftermath of the accident, there are steps you can take to start increasing your settlement value immediately. These steps include the following:
Call Emergency Responders
Do not hesitate to call emergency responders for help. This does not only include an ambulance for medical assistance but should also include law enforcement officials and potentially the local fire department. When you are explaining the collision to 911 operators, they can determine as to which emergency responders will arrive at the accident. Keep in mind that it is not unusual for liable parties to try to convince you that law enforcement does not need to be called. Most often, this occurs because the at-fault party is aware of the fact that they are responsible for causing the accident and hoping to avoid being held accountable. For example, suppose you were involved in a car crash and the driver that hit you is attempting to convince you that you do not need to call the police. In that case, the driver may be uninsured, driving with a suspended license, or potentially even have a warrant out for their arrest.
You must prioritize yourself, your needs, and your accident claim. By contacting emergency responders, law enforcement officials will arrive and begin documenting the scene. Police will file reports that can later be used as supporting evidence in your claim against the at-fault party. The police can also determine who is responsible for the accident and include notes that could provide essential information your attorney will use to build your claim.
Document the Accident Scene and Your Damages
While you wait for the police to arrive, this is a good opportunity to increase your settlement value by collecting as much evidence as possible. The burden of proof in personal injury claims is based on a preponderance of the evidence. It is not beyond a reasonable doubt. Essentially, your personal injury attorney must be able to show through clear and convincing evidence that the accused party is more than likely responsible for causing the accident or your resulting injuries.
Much of the most powerful evidence will only be available for a limited amount of time. For instance, if you were hit by a commercial truck, you should take a minute to write down any nearby businesses or addresses that may have obtained video surveillance footage of the accident. If your lawyer can reach out to these businesses, homeowners, or the city to obtain traffic camp footage, we may be able to secure video of the collision before it is accidentally deleted or overwritten.
However, many other types of evidence can also be obtained at the accident scene. While your attorney can and will conduct an intensive investigation, any evidence you can collect immediately after the accident could prove valuable. Some examples of such evidence could include:
- A detailed personal account of how the accident happened
- Photos of your injuries and damage surrounding the accident
- The names and contact information of other involved parties and witnesses
- Statements obtained from bystanders and witnesses
- Video footage at the accident scene
You should also be sure to keep comprehensive medical records, document your out-of-pocket expenses, and keep copies of every other expense related to the accident. These types of evidence can go a long way in not only proving liability but demonstrating the true value of your damages. One of the most common ways liable parties avoid paying injury victims fairly for their damages is by accusing them of exaggerating the extent of their injuries. With the evidence you collect at the accident and throughout our investigation, you can prove the impact the accident and injuries have had and may continue to have on your life.
Get Medical Help As Soon as Possible
One of the best things you can do to increase the value of your personal injury settlement is to get medical attention. You may not feel like you have suffered catastrophic injuries in the aftermath of the accident. However, this may be because you are in shock, and adrenaline is still running through your body. Once you begin to calm down, your body will relax, and you will feel the full impact of your injuries. You do not want to risk your condition rapidly deteriorating because you failed to get medical attention.
What is worse, if you do not get medical help, the defense is going to argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim. When you get medical attention immediately after the accident, your medical records will begin. They can describe the extent of your injuries, the treatment you went through, any continued treatment or therapy you may require, and your prognosis. To increase the settlement value, we can include extensive medical records, testimony from your healthcare providers, and statements from emergency medical technicians at the accident scene that describe the extent of your injuries and how your life may be affected for years to come by the trauma of the accident.
How Your Top-Rated Personal Injury Attorney With Moody Law Can Maximize Your Settlement
Your committed personal injury lawyer with Moody Law will analyze the details of your case to figure out how to increase settlement value. You can rely on our team to handle every legal detail necessary to maximize your payout. These responsibilities might include:
Conducting a Comprehensive Investigation
The first step in building a compelling case against the liable party is conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident. The evidence we obtain will help establish blame and the total value of your damages. While you can collect as much evidence as possible at the accident scene, our investigation is more extensive. Some of the evidence that will be most valuable in increasing your settlement value include the following:
- Personal accounts of the extent of your injuries
- Depositions from friends and family that attest to the severity of your condition condition
- Medical records, reports from healthcare providers, and your prognosis
- Video of your inability to complete daily living activities or participate in activities you previously enjoyed
- Photos of your injuries
Negotiating with Insurers
The insurance company will likely try to settle your case for as little as possible. It is our goal to increase your settlement value by preventing the insurance company from reducing your settlement or delaying the processing of your claim.
Offering Extensive Legal Knowledge and Support
Working with an experienced legal advocate is arguably the best way to increase the value of your settlement. The claims process can be complicated, and you should not attempt to navigate it alone, even if you have an extensive legal background. Few parties are able to get the most out of their accident settlements by going at it alone. Your personal injury lawyer will go over the various ways your life has been and will continue to be affected by the injuries sustained and the trauma of the accident. Our in-depth investigation will help us determine how much your case is truly worth.
Your personal injury attorney will also ensure you understand which laws could influence the outcome of your case. For example, sharing blame, fault insurance laws, and the statute of limitations could all influence your ability to maximize your payout.
Ensure All Potentially Liable Parties Are Identified and Held Accountable
Another way to ensure you are getting the most out of your settlement is by ensuring all parties that contributed to your injuries are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. In many types of accidents, it is not unusual for multiple parties to share responsibility for the accident. We see this most often in drunk driving accidents, commercial truck accidents, slip and fall accidents, and construction accidents. For example, if a drunk driver hit you, you might be ready to file a claim against the driver that hit you. However, it may surprise you to learn that a nearby bar or nightclub that over-served alcohol to the defendant can also be held accountable under the state’s dram shop liability laws.
Make no mistake: multiple parties sharing blame can make your lawsuit and insurance claims more complex. However, when multiple parties can share the total value of your settlement, your chances of recouping your losses in full will dramatically increase.
Do Not Be Afraid to Go to Trial
After being involved in an accident and suffering catastrophic injuries, the last thing you want to have to deal with is bringing your case to trial. In fact, many accident victims forfeit the compensation they could have been entitled to by refusing to bring their case to court. However, if you work closely with your personal injury attorney to build a powerful case against the liable party, trying your case before a judge and a jury is often one of the best ways to get the most out of your claim.
At trial, you have the opportunity to recover compensation for every single loss. When negotiating with the insurance company, your settlement could be limited to specific types of covered losses and coverage limits. When you pursue a personal injury lawsuit, you have the right to be made whole or compensated for every single way your life has been turned upside down by the accident you were involved in and the injuries you sustained. While you may be overwhelmed at the thought of going to trial, your courage in going to court could prove to be the best way to increase the value of your personal injury settlement.
Do Not be Tempted to Settle for Less Than You Deserve
If you hope to increase the settlement value of your catastrophic injury claim, do not allow yourself to be tempted to settle for less than your claim is worth. One of the most common ways to seek compensation after an accident is by filing a claim with the insurance company. It is not unusual for insurers to attempt to convince you to settle for less, make insultingly low settlement offers, or even engage in bad-faith insurance tactics. However, when you recognize the true value of your claim, you should not let financial pressures prevent you from being awarded the compensation you are entitled to.
The insurance company and liable party may be hoping that the stress of the accident will cause you to rush through the claims process. Unfortunately, when you have suffered traumatic brain injuries, back injuries, whiplash, and other critical injuries, the full impact of these injuries may not be apparent. Injuries of this nature often have long-term consequences and can result in permanent disability. If you rush through your personal injury claim and undervalue your damages, you will not be able to increase your settlement value.
Our Personal Injury Team Can Help You Get the Most Out of Your Claim. Call Today For a 100% Free Consult
Hoping to increase the value of your personal injury settlement makes sense after everything you have been through. There is no reason you should be stuck paying out-of-pocket expenses, struggling to cope with the emotional trauma of the accident, and dealing with debilitating physical injuries because of someone else’s poor decisions. Your experienced personal injury attorney with Moody Law wants to help lift the weight of the world off of your shoulders and ease your burdens.
By maximizing your settlement value, we can access the financial support you need and deserve. Request a 100% free consultation when you contact our office by phone or through our convenient contact form. We work for our clients on contingency so you can assert your rights without putting your personal finances at risk. Contact us today to get started on your claim.