Car Accident Attorney Duluth are skilled negotiators who advocate for their clients. They ensure victims are fairly compensated for their losses.
When building your claim, a lawyer considers current and future medical treatment costs, loss of income, and emotional impacts. When you have documentation for all of these items, it strengthens your case and increases your odds of a successful outcome.
- Negotiate with the Insurance Company
You should always notify your insurance company as soon as possible after a car accident. Your policy will likely have a set procedure in place for filing a claim and a list of information that you need to provide. It is also important to be careful about what you say to any insurance adjuster, whether it is your own or another company’s, as anything that you say could be used against you later. For example, you should never admit fault or imply that you think that you are responsible for the accident. You should also avoid agreeing to a recorded statement if you are asked.
The claims process will likely involve a lot of back-and-forth, with the insurance adjuster giving you a low offer and you countering with a number that you believe is fair. The insurance adjuster may then ask for more documents, witness statements or other information before they agree to a settlement. This process can sometimes take several months, which is especially frustrating when you are trying to get your car fixed or have medical bills piling up.
Throughout the negotiation process, it is helpful to remember that the insurance adjuster is a human being and may respond more favorably when you show empathy. You can do this by respectfully explaining your situation and how the accident has affected various aspects of your life. You can also use your medical records and testimony from your doctor to help demonstrate the severity of your injuries.
Finally, if there were any witnesses to the accident, it is a good idea to get their names and contact information. Witnesses can provide vital evidence if the case goes to trial, so it is worth taking the time to talk with them. This evidence, along with your medical records and statements from doctors, are all essential components to a demand letter that you or your attorney will send to the insurance company. If the insurance company refuses to settle, your next step is usually to file a lawsuit. The attorneys at Faraci Lange will be happy to discuss your options and provide further assistance as needed.
- Gather Evidence
Evidence is the backbone of any car accident case. It is essential for proving your case to the insurance company, as well as the judge and jury when fighting for fair compensation in court. The more you can present to support your claim, the better your chances of obtaining a full settlement for your losses and injuries.
The most critical evidence is gathered at the scene of the crash. This includes photographs of the accident, damaged vehicles and property, skid marks on the road, as well as eyewitness statements and any video surveillance footage from nearby stores or businesses with security cameras. Moreover, a good attorney will know to seek out uninvolved witnesses who may have seen the accident and can testify about what they saw at the scene. This kind of witness testimony is very valuable as it can contradict the other party’s version of events or provide new information to bolster your claims.
In addition to physical evidence from the crash, it is important to collect and preserve records pertaining to your medical treatment and vehicle expenses. Medical bills and records can serve as tangible proof of your physical injuries, while records pertaining to lost wages can demonstrate how the accident has impacted your ability to work and earn a living. It is also important to gather documentation of non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering and decreased quality of life.
Lastly, the police report of your crash is an important piece of evidence. While you might disagree with the officer’s assessment of who was at fault, you should get a copy of this report to use as evidence later on in your case.
In addition to photographic and video evidence, your lawyer will often request, collect, and preserve CCTV footage of the accident from surrounding businesses or traffic signals. These videos are very useful in establishing the conditions on the road at the time of the crash, which is crucial to proving your case. They can also show what the other driver was doing immediately prior to the collision, which might have influenced the outcome of your accident.
- Prepare for Your Initial Consultation
Your lawyer will need a detailed account of your incident to determine if you have a valid claim. Providing a complete picture of the incident, including your injuries and their impact on your life, is critical to your case’s success. Your attorney can help you with this step by evaluating police reports, medical records, photographs of the scene and vehicles involved and documentation of any communication with insurance companies.
Whether you were injured by another driver’s negligent conduct or by your own error, it’s important to document everything related to the accident. This includes a timeline of what happened, how you suffered your injuries, the impact on your personal and professional life, and any other information relevant to the legal issue.
Some injuries don’t manifest themselves until the adrenaline rush of an accident dulls pain or makes it difficult to recognize. Therefore, you should seek immediate medical attention after an accident. This will not only help ensure that your injury is properly treated, but it may also prove vital in establishing liability and in calculating damages.
You should take pictures of any damage to your vehicle and other property, along with close-ups of any visible injuries. It is also a good idea to keep all your medical documents, receipts for prescriptions, and any other documentation that is related to your injury. It’s best to bring these documents with you to the initial consultation as they will serve as valuable pieces of evidence for your claim.
If you have been working since the accident, you must document any time you had to miss work due to your injury. The attorney can evaluate this information to determine if you have a valid lost wages claim and calculate your total economic losses.
It is also important to consider any long-term or permanent effects of your injuries and how they will affect your daily life. This includes your ability to work, play with your children or do other activities you regularly enjoy. A good car accident attorney will be able to assess your future needs and provide you with compensation for these impacts.
- Keep Records
When you are involved in a car accident, it is vital to take certain steps immediately afterward to preserve your rights. If you haven’t already done so, call 911 right away and get medical help if needed. You should also take pictures of the scene — including damage to vehicles, skid marks and the condition of the road — and ask for insurance and contact information from other drivers, passengers and bystanders.
The law enforcement officer who comes to the scene will prepare a police report, and you should obtain a copy of that document. This report can contain important information regarding how the crash occurred, who the officer believes was at fault and other details that can help in your case.
If you haven’t done so already, see a doctor for a full evaluation of your injuries. This will confirm to the insurance company that your injuries are related to the accident and can help substantiate any claims you make for damages.
In addition, you should keep copies of all medical bills and records related to your treatment. General damages, such as pain and suffering, are more difficult to quantify, so you should also keep a car accident journal, documenting everything that you experience as a result of the crash, such as headaches, loss of sleep and time out of work.
Similarly, it would help if you started to collect repair estimates for your vehicle. These can be used to counteract an adjuster’s claim that your vehicle is worth less than its actual cash value.
You should also keep receipts for any rental car expenses and document all lost income as a result of the crash. In some cases, these can be reimbursed by the insurance company. Finally, you should not destroy any physical evidence from the crash, such as your vehicle or its parts, unless instructed to do so by your attorney. Inquiring about an attorney’s approach to client communication and involvement throughout the legal process can provide you with a good sense of how well they will work with you. It is also a good idea to discuss the potential fee structure before hiring an attorney.