how to increase your personal injury settlement

6 Ways to Increase the Value of Your Personal Injury Settlement.

• 1. Get Medical Attention Immediately. If you hope to maximize your injury settlement, you must receive medical attention immediately after your ...
• 2. Don’t Accept a Low-Ball Offer.
• 3. Keep Copies of Your Employment Records.
• 4. Don’t Trust the Insurance Company.
• 5. Don’t Forget Future Damages.

Full Answer

How do you ask for more money in a settlement?

Send a Detailed Demand Letter to the Insurance Company Because the insurance company will likely reply with an offer for an amount lower than what you've asked for in the demand letter, you should ask for between 25 and 100 percent more than what you would be willing to settle for.

How do you negotiate a higher pain and suffering settlement?

How to Negotiate Pain and Suffering in a Car Accident ClaimPrepare well. ... Learn about pain and suffering. ... Keep your tone with the adjuster professional. ... Explain how the injury affected your life. ... Do not be shy. ... Tell the insurance adjuster how painful the whole experience was. ... Explain how painful the treatment was.More items...

How long do most personal injury cases take to settle?

How Long Does It Take to Resolve Personal Injury Claims? Half of our readers resolved their personal injury claims within two months to a year, while 30% of readers waited over a year for their cases to be resolved. The overall average was 11.4 months.

How do insurance companies negotiate cash settlements?

Let's look at how to best position your claim for success.Have a Settlement Amount in Mind. ... Do Not Jump at a First Offer. ... Get the Adjuster to Justify a Low Offer. ... Emphasize Emotional Points. ... Put the Settlement in Writing. ... More Information About Negotiating Your Personal Injury Claim.

How do you respond to a low settlement offer?

Steps to Respond to a Low Settlement OfferRemain Calm and Analyze Your Offer. Just like anything in life, it's never a good idea to respond emotionally after receiving a low offer. ... Ask Questions. ... Present the Facts. ... Develop a Counteroffer. ... Respond in Writing.

What should I ask for pain and suffering?

Consider the following factors in your discussion of pain and suffering: severity of your injury....The following documents, if available, should be attached to your demand letter:Medical records, bills, and receipts.Doctor's note.Police report.Witness statements.Photos of injuries.

How is settlement value calculated?

How Do Insurance Companies Determine Settlement Amounts?The type of claim you are making. ... The policy limits and amounts allowed for recovery. ... The nature and extent of your injuries. ... The long-term effects of your accident on your life. ... The strength of your case. ... The distribution of fault. ... Previous matters.

How long does it take to negotiate a settlement?

The average settlement negotiation takes one to three months once all relevant variables are presented. However, some settlements can take much longer to resolve. By partnering with skilled legal counsel, you can speed up the negotiation process and secure compensation faster.

How long does an injury claim take to pay out?

As a very rough guide, a claim may take 6 to 12 months if liability is accepted by the treatment or care provider immediately. If liability is disputed, it could take 12 to 18 months for more complicated claims. Very complex cases can take significantly longer.

Do insurance companies want to settle fast?

Insurance companies want to settle cases right away, because they don't want you to have an opportunity to speak to a personal injury lawyer. If an insurance company is offering you any money, it is always advisable that you at least have a consultation with an attorney.

What should you not say to an insurance adjuster?

Never say that you are sorry or admit any kind of fault. Remember that a claims adjuster is looking for reasons to reduce the liability of an insurance company, and any admission of negligence can seriously compromise a claim.

What happens if insurance doesn't pay enough?

If your insurance claim check is not enough, take a second (or third, or fourth) look through your insurance policy to see if you can find anything that might help you win your case against your insurance company to get them to give you a higher settlement.

How long does it take to negotiate a settlement?

The average settlement negotiation takes one to three months once all relevant variables are presented. However, some settlements can take much longer to resolve. By partnering with skilled legal counsel, you can speed up the negotiation process and secure compensation faster.

Should I accept personal injury offer?

Once the offer is made, you have 21 days to decide whether or not to accept it. You should always take legal advice before accepting a Part 36 offer, especially if you have a conditional fee agreement or are using an insurance policy to cover your legal expenses, as you may find you invalidate your contract.

How long does it take Liberty Mutual to settle a claim?

In general, it can take Liberty Mutual an average of ten weeks to respond to a demand package. After reaching a settlement, it can take anywhere from two to six weeks to receive a settlement check.

What do I need to make a whiplash claim?

To start your whiplash claim, gather all the evidence you need. This includes names and contacts of both drivers and potential witnesses, the date and time of the car accident, and pictures of the scene where possible. You'll also be able to make a whiplash claim if you were in the car of the at-fault driver.

1. Get Medical Attention Immediately

If you hope to maximize your injury settlement, you must receive medical attention immediately after your accident. Documenting your injuries is critical at this point, as it will show that the accident in question directly caused her injuries. If you wait, the defense can question how your injuries occurred.

3. Keep Copies of Your Employment Records

Another way to get the most out of your injury settlement is by retaining copies of your employment records. This could include statements from your employer that describe your hourly or salary rate, the number of hours you have worked, the amount of money you have missed out on by being unable to work, and copies of your pay stubs.

6. Stay Off Social Media

Insurance adjusters and the defense may comb through your social media accounts to look for inconsistencies and opportunities to suggest that you may have exaggerated the extent and impact of your injuries.

Contact a Lawyer for Help

If you need help to increase the value of your injury settlement, but you do not know where to turn, contact an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C.

Let's Get Started

We’re ready to fight for you. We’re ready to be your ally. And we’re ready to start right now. Don’t waste time, contact our law offices today.

What Damages Are Recoverable?

According to the American Bar Association (ABA), damages recoverable in a personal injury settlement can include:

Identify Your Expenses After a Personal Injury Accident

Getting an accurate calculation of your accident- and injury-related expenses requires identifying as many of those costs as possible.

Meet with an Attorney to Ensure Your Settlement Offer Is Fair

When a lawyer represents an accident victim, they identify their damages, calculate a fair value for the case, and demand a payout that compensates their client fairly. It is a good idea to let an attorney review your settlement offer before you sign it, even if they are not handling other aspects of your case.

Speak with a Morris Bart, LLC Team Member for Free

You can get started today with a free case consultation from the Morris Bart law firm. We are a contingency fee firm and seek fair and just payouts for our clients.

How long does a personal injury claim have to be settled?

Know your state Statute of Limitation. All claims for personal injuries must be settled before the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations or a law suit must be filed to preserve the claim. For example, the personal injury statute of limitations in Utah is four (4) years from the date of the accident for most claims; defective product claims must be filed within two (2) years of the injury and claims against government entities have special shorter time requirements.

How long does it take to settle a PIP claim?

Never settle your claim before its time. It sometimes takes many months to settle a claim.

How do insurance companies keep records?

Insurance companies keep records of all claims ever made and share that information with each other through their Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange Database. Once the insurance company has your identifying information, i.e. your name, date of birth and SSN number, the insurance company is certain to find virtually any claims you have ever made in any state.

Why are many good cases compromised or lost?

Many good cases are compromised or lost because the injured person forgets or conceals previous injuries or history of physical complaints from his or her own attorney. Be certain to provide your attorney with the names and addresses of all doctors who have treated you in the past.

Why do insurance companies want to get past medical records?

Insurance companies will try to obtain all of your past medical records in an attempt to prove that your injuries existed before the accident, thereby reducing the potential value of your pain and suffering damage claim.

How to remember your injuries?

Keep a diary of all of your complaints and limitations on your physical activities. This will help you remember details many months later when you are required to provide a statement or testify about how your injuries impacted your daily life.

Do insurance companies pay you money?

Insurance companies do not pay money willingly. The insurance company can be expected to thoroughly investigate the facts of your accident and use any prior history of related medical conditions to diminish the value of your claim.