How to Negotiate a Car Accident Settlement After a Chicago Car Crash?
A car accident happens in an instant. However, the effects of the crash can last for a long time, or may even be permanent. A car accident injury can require extensive medical care which can leave. you with overwhelming medical bills.
You may be facing a long recovery and the last thing you need to deal with is a claims adjuster from the insurance company. Insurance companies are known to offer accident victims a minimum settlement figure to compensate them for their accident-related medical expenses and other damages.
The process of seeking payments from the at-fault driver can also take a long time, especially if you do not have the right legal representation. Negotiating a car accident settlement on your own is the last thing you need. Most car accident lawyers advise accident victims never to take a settlement offer from an insurance company without first talking with a car accident attorney.
At Abels & Annes, P.C. in Chicago, our attorneys regularly negotiate car accident claims with insurance companies. If you suffer injuries in a Chicago car crash, you should not wait to call a Chicago car accident lawyer. At Abels & Annes, we are personal injury lawyers who stand up for the rights of our clients against insurance companies and in the courtroom. Call us at (312) 924-7575 to learn more.
What Are Insurance Company Claim Settlements?
The first step to seek financial recovery is generally to file an insurance claim with the negligent driver's insurance company. Insurance companies are not easy to deal with, however, and you should have legal assistance from the very beginning of the claims process. Insurance adjusters try to limit payments on claims when possible. This helps the insurance company retain more profits. However, it can make life extremely difficult for an innocent accident victim.
The following are some ways a claims adjuster may try to take advantage of you during the claims process:
- Convince you to make a recorded statement, hoping you might accidentally say something that can be used against your interests
- Downplay the seriousness of your injuries to convince you that your claim is not worth as much as you think
- Promise that they are on your side (they're not) and that you should not call an attorney (you should)
- Offer much less than you deserve and try to convince you it is your best option
- Cause delays so you may agree to accept a first offer
Unfortunately, some accident victims do not realize they have other options than to simply accept an insurer's offer. They do not realize that an injury attorney negotiates with the insurance company and fights for a higher offer. Our attorneys have a great deal of experience with auto insurance companies and how to prove the full value of your claim. Having a personal injury lawyer help from the start can often increase your chances of receiving a fair settlement for your personal injury claim.
What Are Personal Injury Settlements During Litigation?
In some cases, an insurance adjuster will not budge. This often occurs in cases involving serious injuries that require ongoing future treatment and cause many intangible losses, such as pain and suffering.
Luckily, an insurance claim is not your only option for financial relief. Sometimes there's a need to file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court. This lawsuit seeks a court order for the defendant to pay you what you deserve. Like any lawsuit, the personal injury litigation process proceeds in accordance with strict rules of civil procedure, as well as rules of the specific court where you file your claim.
Litigation has many stages, including initial pleadings, written and oral discovery, motions, and trial. However, the vast majority of cases resolve before trial. At some point, both sides will likely engage in settlement negotiations. Discovery provides insight into the evidence of the other side. This can allow our lawyers to build a strong case and prepare persuasive arguments as we work through the negotiation process.
In negotiating an auto accident settlement, we try to reach a favorable agreement with the defendant and the insurer. Many cases require several negotiation sessions and we will not back down and accept an offer that doesn't reflect the full value of your damages. We can use expert analysis and opinions to show we have a strong case for proving both liability and your damages.
What are Pre-trial Conferences, Mediation, and Arbitration?
Parties in litigation may try to resolve a car accident claim in the following manner:
- The parties may participate in a pre-trial conference with the judge.
- A plaintiff and defendant may participate in a mediation with an agreed-upon neutral party.
- The parties may choose to directly negotiate with each other through their lawyers.
- An agreement could be reached to participate in binding arbitration, saving the costs of a trial.
Reaching a settlement can be beneficial for many reasons. First, both parties have greater control over the outcome of the case than they would if it went to trial. When personal injury claims settle, both parties agree to a certain amount. At trial, a jury may award more or less than the last settlement offer or may find in favor of the defendant altogether. There is greater certainty with a settlement agreement.
Are You Going to Trial?
While most personal injury claims settle before their court date, our car accident lawyers do realize there are some cases that just will not settle. We have experience in the courtroom and will take a case to trial when necessary. Sometimes, a defendant simply refuses to make a fair settlement offer. In that situation, you need a litigator that's ready to fight for you.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., our priority is helping our clients. We engage in settlement negotiations with many types of defendants and many different insurance carriers in car accident cases. We negotiate settlements for a wide variety of cases, including those for clients with devastating or disabling injuries. No matter what happened in your motor vehicle accident, please do not wait to contact our office so we can evaluate your rights.
Have a Car Accident Lawyer Negotiate with Your Car Insurance Company
Accidents happen on the streets of Chicago on a daily basis and result in serious injuries. If your injuries required extensive medical treatment resulting in costly medical bills and lost wages, you deserve the maximum compensation for your damages. Getting a fair final settlement from most insurance companies usually takes some negotiating. Want to know how to negotiate a car accident settlement and get the full and fair compensation you deserve? Hire a car accident lawyer you can trust.
The attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C., are here to help with your insurance settlement. We handle every aspect of car accident cases, from filing insurance claims to resolving lawsuits in the most favorable manner possible.
We do not stop fighting for our clients and explore all options to get you the injury settlement you deserve. Please call our office at (312) 924-7575 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation today.