Whether you’re dealing with minor injuries or facing a long recovery, understanding how to maximize your car accident settlement is crucial.
However, learning how to get more money from a car accident settlement is a lot more than just having severe injuries.
It’s also a matter of how much evidence you have and avoiding negotiation traps set by the adjuster.
The insurance company for the other driver is not looking out for your best interests. Their only goal is to reduce or eliminate any payout on behalf of their insured.
To set yourself up with the best chance possible, we’ve put together six steps you can take to help maximize your potential car accident claim following your injury.
Feel free to contact us at (770) 988-5252 or reach out to us online for a conversation about your case. We’re here to help!
How to Get More Money from a Car Accident Settlement
While there is no guarantee of settling for the full value of your claim, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances. By doing your due diligence after a crash, you set yourself up for better negotiating power and a full understanding of your losses. It’s important to take immediate action and protect your rights.
Here are the steps you should take to help maximize your car accident settlement.
1. Gather as Much Evidence as You Can
Gathering evidence after a car accident is a critical step in potentially maximizing your car accident claim. This process may help demonstrate the extent of your losses and establish the other party’s negligence, which is paramount in Georgia since it follows a contributory negligence system.
Ultimately, the most important evidence in these types of claims typically includes:
- Photos, videos, and damaged property. Photos of your vehicle’s damage, your injuries, and any property damage serve as tangible proof of the accident’s impact. This documentation helps in quantifying the extent of physical damages, which is crucial for justifying the amount claimed.
- Medical records and bills. Documentation related to the accident injuries is vital. They not only help show the injuries as a direct result of the wreck, but also detail the medical treatment required. Including a detailed prognosis is also helpful in claiming future medical costs.
- Pay stubs. If the accident led to time off work, evidence such as pay stubs, a letter from your employer, and medical certificates may substantiate your claim. Demonstrating how the injuries impacted your future ability to earn may also contribute to your claim’s value.
- Witness information. Eyewitness accounts may provide an unbiased perspective on the accident, offering additional support to your claim. These statements might support your version of events and further solidify the other party’s liability. Get names, phone numbers and emails for all witnesses at the scene.
- Nearby Video. Cameras are everywhere these days. A business located near the scene of your wreck or drivers with dashcams may have some great evidence, BUT YOU HAVE TO MOVE FAST. Many security cameras erase footage quickly, sometimes in a few days. Look closely for security cameras that may have had a view of the wreck and then approach those businesses ASAP.
- Recovery journal. Settlements also take into account intangible costs like pain and suffering. Keeping a journal detailing your physical pain and emotional distress may help justify these losses.
Like any other case, the evidence you have is the backbone of your argument. The more evidence you have, the better position you’re in to negotiate for a higher settlement.
2. Receive Medical Treatment Soon After Your Accident
When figuring out how to get the most money from a car accident claim, nothing is as vital as receiving medical treatment. Immediate medical attention not only ensures the doctor properly diagnoses your injuries, but also creates an official record linking them directly to the accident. This documentation is crucial for substantiating your claim, demonstrating the severity of your injuries, and justifying your need for compensation.
Delaying treatment leads insurance adjusters to question the seriousness of your injuries or suggest they aren’t related to the accident, potentially reducing the amount of money you may recover.
Make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions and treatment plan. Following through with the doctor’s recommended plan is just as important as seeking initial treatment timely.
Consider a case where the doctor orders several months of physical therapy. If you don’t follow through, the insurance company will argue you made your condition worse and failed to mitigate your damages. That means you wouldn’t be entitled to reimbursement for your full damages.
3. Never Accept the First Offer
Accepting the first offer from another driver’s insurance company during a car accident claim is often unwise. The reason is because initial offers are typically low, designed to minimize the insurer’s payout. These preliminary settlements may not fully cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
Generally, insurance companies bank on the fact that claimants may not yet understand the full extent of their injuries. They hope you’ll agree to a settlement and sign a release of all claims, which extinguishes your right to ask for additional money. If you find out that you need future surgery and have already signed the release, they will not offer you any higher amount.
By waiting and negotiating, possibly with the assistance of an attorney, you may be able to more accurately assess your damages. Before accepting any settlement or signing legal documents, speak with an experienced lawyer.
4. Avoid Talking to the Other Insurance Company
Insurance companies train adjusters to elicit statements that may undermine your claim, potentially reducing a payout. When those tactics fail, some even resort to pressuring claimants into accepting an offer, often saying that they won’t get another. Never make a recorded statement without first speaking with a Georgia car accident lawyer.
Attorneys are very familiar with the tactics used by insurance companies and can protect you from inadvertently saying something that harms your case. When you’re represented by a lawyer, all communication goes through your lawyer. The insurance company cannot contact you or speak with you unless your attorney is present.
5. Reach Out to an Experienced Car Accident Attorney
When searching how to get more money from a car accident settlement, you may come across a lot of advice saying to hire an attorney.
Research consistently shows that hiring an attorney can significantly increase the compensation received in car accident settlements. A notable study by the Insurance Research Council found that claimants who enlist legal representation receive settlements that are, on average, three times larger than those who negotiate with insurance companies on their own. This significant difference underscores the value of having knowledgeable legal counsel representing you.
An experienced car accident attorney brings more than just legal knowledge to the table. They have the negotiation skills and strategic insights needed to counter the tactics employed by insurance companies aimed at minimizing payouts. Your attorney will advocate for your best interests, meticulously highlighting the full extent of your damages and losses to ensure you receive fair compensation.
Furthermore, they have access to a network of expert witnesses and other resources that can strengthen your case, giving you a considerable advantage in negotiations.
Hiring an attorney can make all the difference in getting the most money from a car accident settlement. By leveraging their skills and knowledge, you ensure that your rights are protected and your potential settlement reflects the actual value of your claim.
6. Stay Off of Social Media
Avoiding social media while pursuing a car accident claim is crucial when you’re trying to figure out how to increase settlement value. Posts, photos, or comments may be misconstrued or taken out of context by insurance companies, potentially undermining your claim of injury severity or emotional distress.
Even seemingly innocent updates might cast doubt on your claims, leading to a lower settlement offer. There’s also the risk of someone tagging you in something that could be used against you. It doesn’t matter if a friend tags you in a photo or video that predates the accident. The other driver’s insurance company will use it to raise suspicion with the jury.
Lock down your social media accounts so everything is private, and refrain from updates until your case is resolved. Staying off social media helps maintain the integrity of your case, ensuring that your online presence doesn’t inadvertently harm your chances of securing a fair settlement.
Need an Attorney for Your Georgia Car Accident? Choose an Award-Winning Firm
If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident in Georgia and you’re seeking to maximize your settlement, don’t navigate this complex process alone. Reach out to MG Law today for a free consultation.
Our dedicated team, recognized for our legal excellence and commitment to justice, is here to guide you every step of the way. With our exclusive focus on personal injury law, we bring a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of success to your case.
Call us at (770) 988-5252 or contact us online to discuss your case. Let us put our experience to work for you.
Amer Ahmad is a trial lawyer at MG Law. He represents seriously injured clients who are going through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Amer’s practice includes representing families in wrongful death cases and individuals seriously injured by motor vehicle accidents, negligently maintained premises, and defective products. As a former insurance attorney who knows the insurance companies’ playbook, he helps MG Law clients even the playing field and avoid insurance tricks. Due to his experience and results, Amer has been named a Georgia Rising Star by Super Lawyers and Atlanta Magazine from 2019 until 2024. Only 2.5% of all lawyers in Georgia are selected as Rising Stars.