After an injury, such as a car accident, truck collision, or motorcycle accident, it can be useful to figure out a strategy for negotiating a personal injury settlement.
If you have been involved in a crash, talking with an experienced personal injury lawyer may be the first step toward developing an effective strategy.
Consider a Specific Amount for Your Settlement
It is often said in goal-setting to “begin with the end in mind.”
In considering a settlement amount, decide on a minimum settlement amount you have in mind. This is not set in stone. This is not anything that you need to share with an insurance adjuster or reveal to friends.
The specific amount simply gives you an original starting point for evaluating what you may be willing to settle for in your claim.
Resist the Initial Offer in Marietta Personal Injury Cases
As in many negotiations, it is common practice for insurance adjusters to start with very low amounts. This is a tactic to ‘test’ whether you understand what your claim is worth and to evaluate your stamina for negotiating.
If you are speaking directly with an insurance adjuster without understanding the rules of negotiation, you may want to consider speaking with an experienced attorney before proceeding.
Insist on Justification for Personal Injury Settlements in Georgia
One of the strongest negotiating tactics is to get the insurance adjuster to justify their low offer. Take notes during your initial conversation and write up a brief outline of the factors mentioned.
The next time you speak with the adjuster, start the conversation by requesting a response to your letter. This may inspire a more reasonable and equitable offer.
Emphasize Emotions and Evidence in a Marietta Accident
Use emotions to support your claim, and provide evidence to back up your claim. For instance, you may have found a beer bottle near the accident scene that came from the other driver’s car. A photo of this can document the possibility of alcohol use.
Consider Speaking to a Marietta Personal Injury Lawyer
If negotiations are not going in the direction you wish, you might think about talking to a personal injury lawyer. Lawyers are professionals who spend years understanding the law and learning how to best represent their clients.
If you have been contemplating representing yourself, you may not have fully considered speaking with an attorney. However, this is especially a smart idea if you are demanding compensation that includes pain and suffering, future lost income, or costs of future medical treatment.
An experienced attorney may be able to effectively present your argument and represent your interests.
Affording a Lawyer in Marietta, Georgia
One of the main reasons people can be reluctant to hire an attorney is fear of legal fees. In Marietta, it is common practice for personal injury lawyers to work on what is known as a contingency fee. This means that the attorney will not be paid unless there is a settlement or the case is won in court.
If you have been injured and are dealing with an insurance company, you have the right to consult an attorney. You have the right to choose to have a lawyer to represent you.