How to Maximize Your Personal Injury Settlement in California

Attorneys always tell you that they will fight for you to get top dollar after you have been injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault. What you do in the days after your accident could help determine how much money you get. Here are four ways to maximize your own personal injury settlement after you have been injured in an accident.

See a Doctor Right After Your Injury

In your personal injury case, everything depends on your own diagnosis and prognosis. Your medical records are the basis for almost every element of your personal injury damages, including:

• How much you are owed for your medical costs
• How much medical care you will need in the future
• The amount of time that you will miss from work
• The extent of your pain and suffering damages (based on what you have endured and will endure)

You have the burden of proof to demonstrate your damages the same as you have to show liability. You must have everything down on paper to persuade an insurance company or a jury that you deserve the money.

The longer you wait to see a doctor, the more of an opening you give the insurance company to challenge your damages. They may say that you made your own condition worse by delaying your trip to the doctor or failing to follow their recommendation. The sooner that you get everything on paper, the stronger your case for damages is.

Document Your Claim to the Fullest Extent Possible

Along with medical records, you may also need other evidence to substantiate your claim. Of course, you will need strong proof of liability to show the insurance company that you have a legal right to compensation.

Beyond that, you also want to demonstrate what you have lost because the defendant has a legal obligation to put you in the same position as the one you were in before the accident.

You can help your claim by compiling other evidence that could show your damages, including:

• Evidence of what your life was like before the accident
• Data about your earnings at work and your potential future earnings based on your career path
• A log of your daily experiences since you have been injured that be evidence of your pain and suffering
• Statements from people who know you about what they have seen you going through since the accident

The insurance company is always going to try to take “you” out of the equation if it means that they can get away with paying you less. They do not want to know about you because it could cost them more money. It is up to you to provide proof of your own individual situation.

Hire an Attorney Right After Your Accident

The insurance company is going to see an easy target in front of them if you try to file a claim on your own. They view self-represented claimants as the proverbial “fish in a barrel.” They take advantage of you in every way that they can. They could either deny your claim entirely if they believe that you have not submitted enough evidence to prove it, or they could take advantage of you when it comes to offering you money.

There are cases where liability may be as clear as day, but the insurance company still will not pay you what they deserve. They count on you not knowing how much money your case is worth, and they expect you to be grateful for whatever crumbs they throw your way.

When you hire an attorney, they will start by evaluating your claim to come up with your own estimate of your damages. Then, they will handle the negotiations with the insurance company.