Making An Offer For Your Personal Injury Claim

Making An Offer For Your Personal Injury Claim

Your doctor has cleared you to meet with adjuster Henry Hard-Nose after your car accident, and you've had some time to recover. Your injuries and the "pain and suffering" you've had to suffer were all caused by Fred Fuddle, the moron who plowed into your rear end and was insured by Rock Solid Insurance.

In order to get full restitution for your suffering, you must have accrued what the insurance industry refers to as "Special Damages." Your medical costs, missed income, and all the money you've received to assist in your recuperation are included. There are a number of factors to consider when determining the worth of a personal injury claim:

Liability: It's usually evident who was at fault in most car accidents. Considering that rear-enders account for more than half of all car accidents in the United States each year, yours is a case that has to be addressed. According to final statistics, 83 percent of accidents in 2004 had an identifiable cause.

Cases with highly questionable culpability have little or no settlement value. If you're in such a circumstance and need help, then Attorney I.M. Greedy, a local Legal Beagle, is a fantastic choice. Be cautious, though, when signing Greedy's "Contingency Fee Agreement." If you do, It's important to pay attention to what you're reading. Please do not authorize him to charge you anything over his standard rate by signing anything. In no way whatsoever should you enable him to extort money from you for his own costs. There should be no more compensation than the locally recognized proportion of total recovery for Greedy's work (assuming he manages to free any money from Rock Solid).

If there are serious injuries (which statistics show account for 10% to 15% of all car accidents in 2003 and 2004), you should hire a lawyer. You should, however, address and settle your own minor injury claim if it is evident that you were not at fault for the accident.

What kind of person are you? Be brutally honest with yourself and rate yourself. Most likely, you're a typical car owner or driver going about your daily routine. It's important to remember that if you've served time in prison, have a criminal record, or have shown character flaws that often get you in hot water with the local police (as is well-known), you should adjust your expectations for how much your case is worth.

Fred Fuddle's Character Type: What's better for Rock Solid is a better-looking Fred Fuddle or a better-looking "entity" (Fuddle's business, firm, etc.). A known bookie or drug dealer like Fuddle would put them in serious "trouble," though. On the other hand, if Fuddle is a well-liked philanthropist, Rock Solid Insurance may benefit. It's also important to be cautious if you're hit by a van driven by Pastor Frederick Fuddle, and the designated insured is The Fuddle Camp for Lost Souls.

But if the "entity" that struck you was a rotting piece of garbage on wheels driven by Fred "Goof-Ball" Fuddle and the named insured was The Fuddle Rotted Cow Manure Corporation, that would certainly be bad news for Rock Solid.

DAMAGES: Expenses for "Medical Special Damage," "Non-Medical Special Damages," and/or "Property Damage" fall under this category.

Expenses for Medical Special Damages Over-the-counter and prescription medications; over-the-counter drugs; prescription medications; laboratory fees and services; diagnostic tests; prosthetic appliances or surgical apparatus; physical therapy; registered or practical nurse fees; Ace Bandages, Gauze, Tape, Heating Pads, Creams, Ointments, Balms, and Salves; Ace Bandages, Gauze, Tape, Heating Pads, Creams, Ointments, Balms, and Salves;

One dollar may boost the amount of your "pain and suffering" compensation by a factor of four or even five when it comes time to settle your claim. That implies that a $20.00 bill from Rock Solid Insurance might be worth as much as $80.00 to $100.00 more in your pocket at settlement time.

Some examples of non-medical special damages include lost wages and earnings; lost vacation time and/or sick leave; travel expenses; household help during disability; and/or child care during the time you are unable to care for yourself or your family. Such "non-medical" special damages must be documented in writing.

Adjusters take advantage of ordinary claimants in the area of lost wages since the average claimant has so little knowledge of this area.

It is possible to recoup some of your lost wages via commissions and overtime. For this reason, be sure to acquire a written explanation from your company on their letterhead. If your business is self-employed, get this information on your accountant's letterhead.

"Lost Wages" or "Lost Time Verification" is a term used to describe the amount of money you may have lost as a result of time off from work. A payout for missed wages and time is usually available in most cases, even if there is no real loss of money! Such as when your income is compensated by your employer's health insurance, sick leave, or some other agreement.

A "Lost Earnings" or "Time Lost Verification" on the letterhead of your company should be obtained even if you are paid.

If you work for yourself, Hard-Nose may need some "inside information" to show your lost revenue. If you're uncomfortable with the concept of sending him sensitive papers from your home or business, imagine how uncomfortable you'd be if you had to do so in a public setting like a courtroom. Only in a courtroom setting can one establish the extent of one's injuries in order to get just recompense.

Lost work areas are very important. Were you forced to take a lower-paying position because of your injury? Or was your injury such that you were able to return to work, although on a reduced schedule? You should record these facts if the answer to either question is "Yes."

Be Aware: Even if you've been paid while out of work, you may still calculate your time missed from work as "Lost Wages" when you use BASE as your calculator (The Baldyga Auto Accident Settlement Formula).

Damage to property: Motor Vehicle Repair, Damaged Clothing, Broken Glasses, Cost of Substitute Car Rentals, Towing, and Storage are among the most common. Keep a copy of any receipts related to any damage to your property that you have incurred. Keep your originals. When you and Hard-Nose get down to "Talk Turkey," make sure you have them handy. For now, photocopies will have to do.

How old are you? It is common for insurance claims for accident victims under the age of 12 to get high settlements because of their evident innocence. When it comes to physical stamina, people in their teens and into their late 50s fall into a somewhat average range. It is common for people in their late 60s and older to have a favorable outcome in court because of widespread views towards frailty and the elderly.

The most important point to make:

Hard-information The number of "noses" in your file has a significant impact on the value of your claim. Never undervalue the significance of his observations and inferences! Your claim might be greatly influenced by the material you've recorded for Hard-Nose about you, Fred Fuddle, and/or any witnesses, etc., if your case ever goes to trial, particularly because Fuddle has no case to begin with and is clearly in the wrong. Only the expense of getting rid of you can hold up an agreement at this point in time.

As a result, it is critical that you document all of your out-of-pocket costs, accurately document your injuries, and accurately document your lost income in order to maximize your personal injury claim's worth.