Pursuing justice and compensation after a personal injury incident is no small feat. There are many things involved in getting your claim settled. Once you begin negotiating for a settlement, things start to heat up, and you need a strategy to help you through the process. Even though getting a settlement is possible, you want to ensure you get the best. So, how do you go about it? Here are simple tips to help you.
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Engage an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
Not everything will go as you hoped or planned. Therefore, it is crucial to be ready for anything. The best thing to do to ensure you are safe during the negotiation process is to include the services of a Roanoke personal injury attorney. A lawyer is vital if you are pursuing a settlement for serious injuries that may call for tens of thousands of dollars as a settlement. The professional is also crucial if you seek compensation for future damages like lost income or medical treatment costs. An attorney will be necessary to ensure you are compensated effectively.
Have a Specific Amount in Mind
When writing your personal injury demand letter, do it with a specific amount in mind. Your lawyer will help you figure out the worth of your claim. So, before speaking to the adjuster, decide on the minimum amount of settlement you are ready to accept and don’t reveal it to the adjuster. Remember, you don’t have to stick with the amount. If the adjuster points out things you may not have seen or considered when choosing your amount, you may want to lower your minimum. You can also raise it if your evidence is stronger.
Don’t Accept the First Offer
The first thing the adjuster will do is to give you an offer, mostly a lower amount. They use this tactic to see if you understand your claim’s worth. If you get a good offer, you can accept it or ask for an amount that is a little lower to show you are being reasonable. However, you should always emphasize negotiating and involve your lawyer.
Ask the Adjuster to Justify their Low Offer
The adjuster will begin the negotiation process with a low offer to see if you know how much your claim is worth. Don’t accept the offer by lowering what you claimed in your demand letter. Instead, ask the adjuster to give you a reason for their low offer. Please take note of these points and address them in your response letter. The next time they reach out, ask them about your response letter. This time, they should make a reasonable offer that you can still negotiate if you feel it is not worth what you deserve.
Emphasize Emotions
When negotiating with the adjuster, emphasize the emotional points. For example, if there was an empty bottle of beer in the other driver’s car, emphasize that drunk driving could have caused the accident. Emphasize your inability to live as you used to or how you can no longer care for your loved ones.
End Note
You must do these five crucial things when negotiating for a personal injury settlement. Remember, the adjuster serves the interests of the insurance company. So, work with your lawyer to get the best settlement for your injuries, damages, and pain and suffering.