At this moment, you are sharing the road with lots of people who are still suffering from financial losses related to a previous car accident. They might have incurred a lot of debt to get their cars fixed so that they could continue commuting to work. Medical bills from a car accident years earlier might still be following them around. Most of these people receive insurance settlements after their accidents; the trouble is that the settlement money is not enough to make a dent in the cost of their medical bills and vehicle repairs. Many of them would be in a better financial position today if they had contacted a car accident lawyer shortly after the accident. Personal injury lawyers can help you even if you do not file a lawsuit or go to court. If your accident-related injuries are relatively minor but the financial pain is severe, contact a Santa Fe car accident lawyer.
Prove That the Accident Was Not Your Fault
Car insurance companies are primarily concerned with paying as little as possible after car accidents. When you file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, the insurance adjusters will try to turn things around to make it sound like the accident was your fault, or at least partially your fault. They do this by taking recorded statements over the phone, sometimes more than one. They ask you misleading and irrelevant questions in an effort to make you contradict yourself so that your version of events sounds less credible.
If you hire a lawyer, your lawyer can help you gather documents and images that show how the accident happened. This way, it is not just one driver’s word against the other’s.
Calculate Your Accident-Related Financial Losses
When you see the insurance company’s settlement offer, it may seem like a lot of money. Once you deposit the check in your bank account, though, you might find that the money does not go as far as you expected it to, and not just in an “everything is so expensive these days” way. If you meet with a lawyer shortly after your accident, you can find out the accident-related losses you forgot to account for. You included the vehicle repairs, but what about the money you spent on Uber rides or a rental car? You included the medical bills, but what about the days you called in sick to work because the doctor told you to rest?
Get an Adequate Settlement Offer From the Insurance Company on the First Try
The sooner after an accident you contact a lawyer, the better. Have the lawyer give a statement to the insurance company on your behalf. This way, you can get a satisfactory settlement offer the first time around instead of having to call back and negotiate when the first offer you receive is not enough.
Contact Slate Stern About Car Accident Lawsuits
Slate Stern is a personal injury lawyer who represents plaintiffs injured in car accidents. Contact Slate Stern in Santa Fe, New Mexico, or call (505)814-1517 to discuss your case.
Sources
https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-41/article-3a/section-41-3a-1/
Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash