After a vehicle collision, it is important for victims of any type of injury to protect their rights. This is not as simple as it sounds. In many cases, insurance companies will want to rush victims to settlement, hoping they will not realize how much their cases are actually worth. In this rush to settle, many victims, who do not realize they have other options, accept far less than the true value of their cases. It is critical for anyone who is injured in an accident to be sure to have complete information before trying to settle a vehicle crash case.
Different Types of Vehicular Accident Claims
One thing that often confuses the issue for people is the fact that there may be several different claims at play in a vehicle accident. These include:
- Vehicle damage. The damage to a vehicle is often the uppermost in a victim’s mind, especially if he or she relies on the vehicle to get to work, pick up children, or transport family members. Additionally, vehicle damage is usually visible, so it is easy to understand. However, insurance companies may slip a personal injury settlement into the total of a vehicle accident claim and try to dupe the victim into accepting both at once. One thing you can do to prevent this is to be sure that all settlement items are itemized individually so that you can see what is being paid for and what is not. Also, be sure to get at least three estimates for vehicle repairs before accepting any offers, and never rely on the repair shop of the insurance company’s choosing without another opinion.
- Immediate and long-term medical bills. Often, victims are concerned about paying immediate medical bills and are eager to accept a quick offer. The problem with this is that when a victim takes a fast settlement, the long-term cost of care is often ignored. Depending on the type of personal injury, it is possible the victim will need a lifetime of compensation for medical treatment. In order to be sure that the victim has sufficient funds for both present and future medical expenses, it is important that a qualified professional review projected costs and assemble an estimate of how much money will be required to treat any conditions that may develop.
- Lost wages and other lifestyle issues. A car accident may not only affect the victim’s health and physical well-being; it may also affect his or her ability to earn a living or to live normally. Many of these issues are subtle and not easily quantified; therefore, it is very important for car accident victims to work with a personal injury attorney to formulate the right settlement target. The settlement should only be made when the victim is assured that all aspects of his or her lifestyle have been considered.
If you are the victim of a car accident, do not settle without talking to the attorneys at Barber & Associates. For decades, Barber & Associates have been helping victims of car accidents to recover compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering, and other costs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.