Basic Personal Injury Settlement Concepts

If you don't have experience negotiating personal injury settlements then you probably don't know how the process works.

Don't let this stop you. If your injuries are minor, your damages are well documented and liability is easy to establish, there shouldn't be any surprises.

While there is a lot to learn about the law, only a little of it applies to your specific case.

But before you look into the details you should get a handle on the basic rules at play. The following articles will give you a strong foundation.

Overview of Personal Injury Settlements

Using the Elements of Negligence to Build Your Claim
Knowing what constitutes negligence and the legal terms used in claims processing can be a real benefit. Not only will the insurance adjuster have more respect for you, but you'll be able to build a stronger case.

Basic Liability Rules
Establishing liability is the key to personal injury claims. It's important to understand exactly what being "liable" means since it directly affects the amount of your settlement.

Proving Duty of Care in Auto Accidents
Proving liability requires you to establish the duty of care. Understanding insurance industry terms and duty of care will help you successfully settle your car injury claim.

Understanding Proximate Cause and Forseeability
Proximate cause in personal injury lawsuits can be complex. There are times when more than one person is responsible for an accident. Laws can be flexible, but specific standards and exceptions will apply.

Calculating Personal Injury Compensation
Here we take a quick look at the basics of calculating your personal injury demand amount. We discuss special and general damages, and how the insurance company comes up with their settlement offers.

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Filing a First Party Claim with Your Own Insurance
It's sometimes necessary to file a first party claim with your own auto insurance company, such as in no-fault states. Be aware of potential conflicts of interest and learn how to manage your case for a fair settlement.

Types of Personal Injury Insurance Claims
Knowing how different types of insurance coverage works is very important when pursuing personal injury settlements. The majority of personal injury claims involve auto accidents, but many other types of liability insurance cover accidental injuries.

Dealing with Insurance Claim Adjusters
Who is the insurance adjuster and what does he do? You'll be corresponding with the adjuster throughout your claim and he will probably be awarding your settlement, so it pays to understand how to deal with him effectively.

Writing a Strong Personal Injury Claim Letter
Your claim letter starts negotiations with the insurance company. The better your claim letter, the better your chances of getting a good settlement.

Injury Demand Letter Example
This demand letter example shows exactly how to word your letter to drive the insurance company to award a high settlement. Use it as a guide for your own correspondence with the claims adjuster.

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Property Damage Claims After Car Accidents
Aside from your personal injury claim you might also need to make a separate property damage claim. It includes damage to your car and to personal property inside your car at the time of the accident.

Filing an Injury Claim Against the Government
Not all injury claims are handled the same way. Personal injury claims against federal, state, and local governments follow different processes and rules than private insurance claims.

Preventing Fake Injury Claims
There are some unscrupulous people who try to get money by faking or exaggerating injuries. If you believe someone is filing a fraudulent injury claim against you, there are steps you can take to protect yourself.

How Prior Injuries Affect New Claims
A prior injury will almost certainly have an effect on your new injury claim. The insurance adjuster may lessen or deny your claim if pre-existing injuries are related to your current injuries. Learn how to avoid getting your new claim denied.

Claim Preparation and Negotiation Basics
Good preparation is the cornerstone of claim negotiations and is essential to getting a high settlement offer. The more prepared you are to negotiate your claim, the higher your personal injury settlement may be.