If somebody’s negligence resulted in an accident that left you injured, you may have a legal claim against them. If you want to seek compensation for your injury, you can bring a claim with the insurance company of the negligent party. After you file a claim, the insurer will determine if their policyholder is liable for your injury. If so, they will try to settle your claim as quickly as possible by making a quick settlement offer. However, this offer will be far less than what you deserve. Before you accept any settlement offer from an insurance company, here are things you should keep in mind:
Have You Consulted a Lawyer?
Insurance companies make settlement offers that do not reflect the true value of your claim. These offers do not consider many aspects of your claim. So, before you decide to settle your claim outside of court, you should let a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer evaluate your case first. Your attorney will come up with an accurate value of your claim, so you know when it is right to settle.
Have You Taken into Account Your Future Medical Expenses?
When you settle early in the claim process, you could end up getting money that does not account for the future expenses related to your injury. Until you can reach maximum medical improvement, it is not a good idea to settle your injury claim. This way, you will know the extent of your damages, both past and future, and factor this into your claim. future medical expenses can include equipment, future medical treatments, and home care. Your lawyer will review your past, present, and future expenses to include all possible costs when you settle your claim.
You Have Thought About Your Pain and Suffering?
When insurance companies calculate a possible insurance payout, they usually do not consider the claimant’s pain and suffering. However, this type of recoverable damage is worth calculating. The value of this damage depends on the kinds of physical injuries you sustained and how such injuries may have affected you emotionally.
What is Your Chance of Winning in Court?
If you think a settlement will not give you the compensation you deserve, you may want to take your case to court. But before you make this decision, you should consider how likely you will be to win in court. Keep in mind that there is more to proving the existence of your injury and its link to the accident when you go to court. You should also prove that the negligent party owed you a duty of care, breached this duty, caused your injuries, and you sustained damages that directly resulted from the actions of the negligent party.