5 Factors That Can Affect Your Personal Injury Settlement
People who are looking to file a personal injury claim often ask me about the value of their personal injury claim. In some cases, some clients ask me to try and estimate the amount of money they can expect to receive if we settle their personal injury claim. In reality, it is difficult to predict settlement value because there are many factors that affect settlement numbers. When mistakes are made in the preparation of your personal injury claim, the final value of your personal injury claim can be greatly affected. Here are some factors that can increase the value of your claim. In this blog post, we will address some of the top factors that can affect the value of a personal injury claim.
Take Detailed Photos of Accident Scene: In order to prove negligence, it helps to have photographic evidence. It doesn’t matter what type of accident you were involved in; photographic evidence is extremely important. One of the biggest factors that can either help or hurt your personal injury claim is the availability of actual evidence that can help determine liability. After an accident, you must take detailed pictures of the scene and any condition that may have contributed to your injury. If your injury prevents you from doing it yourself, send a trusted friend or family member and give them instructions as to what to look for. Even if you were able to take photos after your injury, it is a good idea to go back and see if you are able to identify any new evidence.
Stay Organized: It is important to retain all documents you receive that pertain to your personal injury case. Doing so will help us obtain maximum compensation for you because we will have accurate and up to date info on your medical bills and treatment, lost wages (if any), car repairs, and any other damages stemming from your injury. Keeping accurate and organized documents can help us prevent your case to an insurance company in the most effective way possible and can in many cases increase the value of your personal injury settlement.
Do Not Discuss Your Case with Others: It is never a good idea to talk about your personal injury case with the insurance company for the opposing side or an attorney for the opposing side. Before you consider doing something like that, try to speak with a personal injury attorney. Unfortunately, it is very common to see clients mistakenly make statements that can hurt their case before coming to speak with us.
Obtain Medical Treatment: In general, as your medical bills increase, so too will the value of your personal injury claim. In order for you to maximize the value of your personal injury claim, you need to make sure that you not only seek necessary medical treatment but that you follow up with your doctor and follow any instructions you are given in order to heal or recover as quickly as possible. Failing to follow these instructions may harm your personal injury case because it will look as if your injury is not as serious as you may have claimed. In addition, an account of all your medical expenses will help support your personal injury claim. You should keep an up to date list of all of your doctors, medical expenses, appointments and medications you are taking.
Document Lost Wages: If you take the time to keep up accurate records of lost income due to your injury, it can greatly increase the value of your claim. Try to obtain documents from your employer to help show any time off you’ve had to take due to medical appointments, surgeries, and overall recovery. Some examples include pay stubs, tax returns, letters from your employers, etc.
Speak with a Personal Injury Lawyer in Miami!
If you have been seriously injured as a result of a car or motorcycle accident, medical malpractice, slip and fall, dog bite, defective product, or any other type of accident, call one of our skilled personal injury attorneys! We provide a free consultation and we are available 24/7! Additionally, we represent clients on a contingency fee basis which means you only pay attorney’s fees if we are able to obtain compensation for your injuries! Remember, insurance adjusters who work for insurance companies negotiate claims with unrepresented claimants all of the time. Experienced personal injury attorneys can help you negotiate a settlement of your personal injury claim or obtain a judgment against the negligent party that is in most cases much higher than what you may have been able to do on your own.
We serve clients throughout Florida including those in the following areas:
Miami-Dade: Aventura, Coral Gables, Doral, Fontainebleau, Hialeah, Homestead, Kendall, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Lakes, North Miami, Tamiami, and Westchester.
Broward: Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and Weston; and Palm Beach County including Boca Raton, Lake Worth, and West Palm Beach.
