Have you been involved in a car accident that left you injured or had your properties destroyed? Or maybe you had a loved one lose their life as a result of a car accident? Of course, the aftermath of such situations can be devastating, especially if the accident was caused by another person’s negligence.
Well, while there’s nothing you can do to reverse the effects of such incidents, you can at least, make your recovery slightly easier by claiming a car accident settlement.
Wondering what this means or how you can go about making such claims? Here, this article will tell you everything you need to know about car accident settlements and the processes for filing for one.
What does Car Accident Settlement Entail?
If you are new to the term car accident settlement, it simply refers to the compensation you get after a car accident. This settlement is generally reserved to help you get back on your feet much quicker by covering the costs incurred during recovery. It can also help offer a bit of consolation in the situation where you lose a loved one to an accident. Of course, no settlement amount can undo what has been done. But one thing it does is help ensure you do not have to bear the financial cost of recovery all by yourself.
You must note, however, that this settlement is not available to at-fault drivers. This means that you only become eligible for this claim if the supposed accident was caused by the other person or third-party negligence. You must also note that an investigation will be carried out to determine the legitimacy of your claim before any settlement will be released to you. Moreover, in the case where a loved one loses their life in a car accident, only direct relations or family members are eligible to file for this claim.
How to File a Car Accident Settlement
Now that you’re all caught up with the car accident laws, the next step involves knowing how to file for one. Unfortunately, being eligible to file for a claim does not automatically mean you’ll get the settlement. It still comes down to your ability to present a convincing case while filing your report. That said, here are the processes for filling a successful car accident settlement.
- Determining Fault: The first thing to do while filing a car accident settlement is to determine which party is at fault for the accident. This step will help ensure you are dealing with the correct insurance company and filing for your settlement correctly. If you are at fault for the accident you’ll most likely be dealing with your own insurance company. If the other driver is at fault, then your settlement claim should be addressed to them or their insurer. Then, in other cases where a third party is involved, you may have to deal with them directly. For instance, if the at-fault driver is working for an employer at the time of the accident, your case automatically shifts from the driver to their employer.
- Collecting Evidence: Of course, dealing with insurance companies can be easier said than done, and they’ll often try to avoid paying you. Therefore, to ensure you drive a solid case that cannot be ignored, you must present ample evidence of the incident. This will not only help ensure that you get a settlement, but it will also help you get proper compensation. However, you must ensure the evidence you provide is complete and accurate.
Now, since accident scenes eventually get compromised, you need to be prompt in your evidence gathering. This means taking pictures of the scene, collecting camera footage, recording eyewitness testimonies, and every other evidence that may be helpful to your case.
- Calculating Damages: This one is a pretty straightforward step. It generally involves calculating the total damages and cost for all the losses incurred. Now, this does not only include damage to properties. It also covers any injury suffered, the treatment costs, equivalent compensation for your pain and suffering, and a detailed account of the wages lost during recovery from said accident.
The purpose of calculating these damages is to accurately determine how much you are eligible to collect in your car accident settlement.
- Submitting Your Insurance Statement: Once you determine who is at fault, whose insurance company you’re dealing with, and what the general damages cost, the next step to making your claim is to submit your insurance statement to said company. The statement or insurance claim form is usually in the form of a printed document. Ideally, this document should contain the details of the accident and the total cost of damages. It should also show a detailed account of your recovery process and a clear compensation request.
Note that everything you say in your statement will be collected into a single document and used as a foundation for your claim. After submission, you can wait for a reply from the insurance company to know if your claim has been accepted or not.
- Negotiating Settlement: If your case is strong enough, your car accident settlement claim will most likely be approved. However, you may be required to renegotiate the initial amount filed in your original claim. This is absolutely normal, and you can discuss a reasonable fee depending on how much you feel your case deserves. But then, you may need to stand your ground and negotiate smartly to avoid being shortchanged or cheated in the negotiation.
Coleman Law Group Can Help You
The process of filing for a car accident settlement is pretty straightforward. But it can also be slightly complicated if you are not familiar with each step, and this is why you’ll want an accident lawyer by your side. That said, Coleman Law Group is your best option, and you can always count on us to deliver. We are very experienced in handling accident cases, and we can help you get the best possible settlement from your accident claim.
