Research shows that most car accidents can be avoided but the saddest thing is that over 3 million car accidents occur annually. In these accidents, over two million people suffer permanent injuries. Consequently, you might need the help of a car accident personal injury attorney after a car crash.
The sooner you settle a car accident claim, the sooner you can focus on recovery. However, you’ll need legal aid if you’re like most people. In other words, you’ll need the services of a car accident personal injury attorney if you don’t have a legal background.
How to Settle a Car Accident Claim without an Attorney
Are you wondering how you can resolve a car accident claim without a lawyer? Here’s how you can do it.
Before filing a car accident claim, you should at least have a rough estimate of what you lost (damages). In other words, you cannot file an accident claim without knowing the extent of your loss. Loss in this case includes bodily injuries and/or property loss. Your loss extends beyond physical injuries and damages to your car.
Your claim should be made up of the total expenses incurred since the accident happened, including car repair costs, medical expenses, lost wages, and more. The future expenses related to the accident should also be included in your claim. For instance, if your injuries make it impossible for you to continue working, you should recover damages for lost opportunity to earn.
After filing your car accident claim with an insurance company, you should speak with a representative of the insurance company (insurance adjuster). The insurance adjuster will make a settlement offer after analyzing the facts of your case. However, this does not mean that you should accept any offer made by the insurance adjuster.
To arrive at a fair settlement value, you might need to negotiate with the insurance adjuster. Word of caution: Anytime you’re dealing with an insurance company, put your emotions in check. Why? Anything you do or say can be used by the insurance company to defeat your claim.
Once you know what the insurance company is willing to pay, it’s time to write a demand letter. A demand letter is used by the plaintiff (claimant) to state their financial claims as well as explain why they decline the initial offer made by the insurance adjuster.
The insurance company will make a new offer after receiving the demand letter. If the offer is accepted, the settlement is ready to be processed but if you fail to reach an agreement, it’s time to file legal action against the insurance company.
Before filing the claim in court, try to know the costs of litigating the claim. However, you should always strive to resolve your claim out of court because the litigation process can be costly and time-consuming.
It’s possible to settle a car accident claim without legal representation. However, consulting a legal professional will have better results.
