Some accident victims hesitate to hire a lawyer. In that case, the victim must negotiate with the insurance adjuster. Smart victims take the time to learn how they can work to strengthen their argument.
Understand when to start negotiations
Do not start negotiating with the adjuster until you have reached the point of maximum medical improvement (MMI). Until an injured and recovering victim has reached that point, he or she does not know for sure whether or not new symptoms might develop. The compensation gained through negotiations should cover the expense for treating all of the victim’s symptoms.
Offer proof of the accident’s economic impact
Save the bills received from doctors and the receipts obtained when purchasing medications or other medical supplies. Save some past pay stubs, so that you can verify your claim, regarding the loss of earnings that has resulted from the accident.
Make note of any expense that you make in order to get your injury treated. If you must travel a long distance to see a specialist, keep a record of the money spent on transportation. If you had to pay for parking at a treatment facility, save the small paper that shows what that parking space cost you.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Kingston knows that you should not overlook all the health care providers that helped with your treatments, and added to the cost of the treatment. Did you spend time with a physical therapist? Did you benefit from the services of someone that specializes in giving messages?
Take advantage of the opportunity
When a case gets tried in a courtroom, the plaintiff cannot focus on emotional issues. However, when a victim negotiates with an adjuster, those same issues can be mentioned. If the accident has triggered the development of mental anguish, that fact should be emphasized.
If the injured caused a great deal of pain, that fact should be noted in a journal or diary. The accident victim ought to keep a journal or diary, and record each day what painful sensation was experienced. What sort of movement triggered the development of that same painful sensation?
Documentation of pain helps to substantiate complaints about ongoing pain. The pain’s intensity cannot be measured, but the frequency of its appearance can be recorded. Do not feel pressured to settle. Understand that once you and the adjuster have negotiated a settlement, you cannot seek any additional money, no matter how long you might continue to suffer.
Does your doctor anticipate a need for future treatments? If so, bring that fact to the adjuster’s attention. Have you been incapacitated to the point where you might struggle to earn a living? If that is the case, that fact, too, must be considered during the negotiations.
Recent Comments