Subscribe To This Site
Accident Settlements: How to Get Compensation for Your Injuries
You get hurt, you ask for some money, you get your money. It would be nice if accident settlements were this easy. Unfortunately there's often more to the process. Arriving at a fair personal injury settlement agreement with the insurance adjuster can be complicated, stressful and drawn out. But sometimes negligence cases are simple and straightforward. Many people handle their accident settlements successfully without hiring a lawyer. Negligence - conduct that falls short of what a reasonable person would do to protect another person from foreseeable risks of harm. Here are two reasons why you would choose to represent yourself: 1) It simply might not be financially worth it to hire a lawyer. The percentage your lawyer will take from the final settlement may leave you with less than if you did it yourself. (Example: You handle the case yourself and get a $5,000 settlement offer, but decide it isn't enough and hire a lawyer who gets you a $6,500 offer. Is this better? Not if your lawyer takes the standard 33% fee, leaving you with $4,350 - not to mention his costs, which are taken off the top.) 2) Many personal injury cases are straightforward. If the defendant is clearly at fault and your damages are detailed accurately, you shouldn't have a problem getting a fair settlement offer. You can elect to hire a lawyer at any time (before you sign the release of course). Click here for the kinds of personal injury negligence cases you can handle on your own, and those you'll need an attorney for. Take a minute to read the pages in this introductory section and you'll gain a heap of valuable knowledge about accident settlements. Learn what to do immediately following your injury, if you should make a claim or file suit, when to get a lawyer, the in's and out's of negotiating, and a few other juicy tidbits. (Note: Common personal injuries can be the result of car accidents, medical malpractice, slip and falls, defective products, etc. This intro section is a general overview and will help you understand the legal process regardless of your particular injury.) What to Do Immediately After the Accident: The first thing that happens in any personal injury case is, obviously, someone gets injured. Click here to learn what to do, and how to help your negligence case, after suffering an injury. The steps taken immediately following an injury often determine the success or failure of accident settlements. Is your Tort Case a Claim or Lawsuit? What is the difference between a personal injury claim and a personal injury lawsuit? This page gives a quick overview of both and helps you determine what your tort case will be (claim or lawsuit). Tort - a civil wrong, or the area of law involving civil wrongs (Tort Law). Anyone who suffers damages can use tort law to get compensation from the person or entity who's legally responsible, or "liable," for their injuries. Understanding Injury Attorneys Professional negligence lawyers bring a lot to the table. It's always a good idea to get the point-of-view of a good injury attorney, most offer an initial consultation free of charge. Introduction to Negotiation Strategies All accident settlements involve negotiations. Read through this page to get a quick introduction to personal injury negotiations: how to value your injuries, how to deal with insurance claim adjusters, etc. After You've Reached a Personal Injury Settlement Agreement... When the negotiations are over, and you (or your lawyer) receive a fair personal injury settlement offer, then it's time to settle. You'll send a letter of confirmation to the insurance company stating the final amount agreed upon and the date by which you expect to receive your check. Once you receive payment you'll have to sign a release form for the insurance company. The Release Form essentially states that you can no longer pursue the insurance company or defendant for any damages no matter what! (Note: Never ever sign a release until you've thoroughly researched your case and consulted a lawyer. The last thing you want is to sign a release prematurely and receive much less than your injuries are worth. After you sign there's nothing you can do to change it.) If you've hired a lawyer he will subtract any costs right off the top then take his fee from the remaining accident settlement amount. You'll get what's left. Return from Accident Settlements to Personal Injury Settlement Guide How Much Is Your Case Worth? Find out NOW! Complete this form for a FREE case review by an experienced attorney... The accuracy of information on this site is not guaranteed. Information on this site is strictly opinion and should not be considered formal legal advice. Under no circumstances should the information on this site be used to make decisions about the proper course of a legal matter. Click below to read our full User Agreement, Disclaimer and Copyright Information.
|
