Ways to Maximize Your Car Accident Settlement

A car accident can have a devastating impact on your life, affecting your physical health and well-being, mental health, ability to work, and financial stability. If you know that someone else is to blame for your accident, it’s time to hold them accountable with a personal injury claim. To you, the evidence may be clear—they are to blame and you deserve compensation. However, it’s not usually that easy to get what you’re owed. Using these tips can help you maximize your car accident settlement.

Don’t wait any longer to reach out to our team and start your personal injury claim. Call Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman at 866-565-4949 to set up a consultation with our team right away.

Handling the Immediate Aftermath of a Crash

It can be hard to think clearly after a car accident. Your adrenaline is pumping, all of the possible outcomes of the crash are racing through your mind, and you’re simply trying to get through the next moment. However, what you do during this time really matters. If you accept blame when talking to the police, refuse to seek medical attention, or walk away from the scene without a shred of evidence, you could be seriously impacting your chances at a fair settlement. After a crash, we recommend:

• Be careful about what you say to the police and the other driver: This isn’t the time to apologize profusely to the other driver, comment on what you did wrong before or during the crash, or get aggressive with the other driver. When you speak to the police, be succinct and speak only about the facts of the collision. Only speak to the other driver to exchange contact and insurance information.

• Take photos of the scene: Take photos and videos of the crash scene. You don’t get another chance to see the crash scene, so get all of the concrete evidence you can.
• Get checked out by a doctor: Pittsburgh is full of urgent care centers and hospitals, so there’s no excuse not to seek medical care as soon as you can after a crash. You want evidence tying the accident to any injuries you sustained. 

Hiring an Attorney Immediately

Another way to maximize your settlement is to talk to a Pittsburgh car accident lawyer right away. This might seem like just another item to add to your to-do list, especially if the insurance company is already reaching out to you with a settlement offer. But this is easily one of the most important things you can do to boost your settlement. 

Insurance companies know how to take advantage of innocent victims, and they have no problem doing that at every turn. They don’t care if you have the money you need to cover your medical bills and lost wages. They simply want to protect their profit margins. When you hire an attorney, you can let them handle all of the communication with the other party’s insurance company, ensuring that you don’t say anything that harms your case. Your lawyer knows the negotiation tactics that work against insurance companies.

Planning Ahead with Your Evidence Collection

The more evidence you have, the harder it is for the insurance company to deny their client’s role in your injuries. Of course, crash scene photos and video footage are very helpful, but don’t stop there. Keep every piece of documentation and communication you get from your doctors, the insurance company, and the other party in the crash. If your injuries affect your day-to-day life, keep a personal injury journal that tracks your pain levels each day, tasks you are incapable of doing, and anything you need to hire help for. These may be costs you can recoup with a personal injury claim.

Following Your Doctor’s Treatment Plan

This is an incredibly important part of fighting for a settlement. If you skip appointments or do not follow your doctor’s recommendations, the insurance company will be resistant to paying for your treatment. They want to see that you are invested in making a full recovery and that you are doing everything you can to mitigate the costs of your injuries.

Ready to Fight for What You Deserve? Call Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman

Take the first step in your personal injury case now. Call our team of Pittsburgh lawyers at 866-565-4949 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.