Often, when people get injured due to the negligence of another person, they need time to heal the injuries. Some of these injuries are severe such that a victim suffers permanently. The process of negotiating for a settlement is long and involves various factors. If you are involved in such a case, you need to evaluate the extent of your injuries and how they will affect you onward before agreeing on a specific settlement. Sometimes the process can heat up such that you don’t know what to do. This article will give you 5 things you need to do to ensure you get the best settlement.
Settle on a Specific Amount
When negotiating for a settlement, you need to have a specific amount you want in mind. The amount will be based on how much the injuries have affected your life physically, emotionally, and socially. You will need to include the medical bills you have incurred during treatment and an approximation of the amount you will need to treat the injuries in the future. Make sure you know the factors that will make your claim strong and ensure to involve emotions in your negotiation.
Hire an Attorney
Negotiating with an experienced person can be difficult and the scary circumstances may force you to take any settlement. This should not be the case. So, it is advisable you get a Seattle personal injury attorney with ample knowledge on such matters to assist you. The expert will be very crucial especially if you might be at fault or you want compensation for serious injuries that passed a few thousand dollars. Your lawyer will also be crucial if you are seeking compensation for lost income or future medical treatment.
Don’t Accept the First Offer
The adjuster will first give you a low offer to see if you understand the value of your claim. So, when the offer is made, consider if it is reasonable before accepting it. You may also go for a lower amount of the reasonable offer to show the adjuster that you are also reasoning well. So, unless the offer is reasonable, consider a little bargaining.
Ask the Adjuster for Reasons for the Low Offer
If the adjuster has suggested a very low amount, ask them for the reasons. This is a negotiation tactic that will help you know your settlement value. The expert might point out things that may have decreased the value of your claim. Make sure you note down the important points. You can then consider lowering the amount based on the strength of their reasons. However, before accepting to lower the amount of settlement, wait and see if they will add a little more. Remember, their main intention is to give the low amount. So, whatever it takes, ensure the offer is reasonable enough and will lead to a fair settlement.
Be Patient
Unless you get a new offer, do not lower the mount again. One time is enough and make sure you stick to that. The only time you should lower the amount twice is when the adjustor increases their offer. Make sure you go through the adjuster’s reasons for the low offer. If they are strong enough, you may realize that no new offer is coming your way. At this point, you will need to look for other elements to convince your insurance firm. Know the power of bargaining and stick to your initial or second amount. Remember, if you keep changing the amounts, it may show that you don’t necessarily know the settlement value.
The Bottom Line
Dealing with the settlement process after injuries is not as easy as many people might think. It is a hectic process that requires a lot of bargaining and gathering of details to push forward the claim. However, regardless of the situation, doing the above things will help you get the best compensation.
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