Six million car accidents take place in America each year. These can affect other drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and surrounding property. Auto accidents can cause a huge amount of damage.
If you have been affected by a car accident in California, help is at hand. You can make a claim against a liable driver for financial compensation after an accident. While a car accident settlement cannot undo the damage of a car accident, it can help you on the road to recovery.
These settlements can vary depending on the severity of your accident. However, if you want to get a fair settlement from a car accident, you need to prepare your case carefully.
Understanding what you are entitled to and building a strong case is essential. Read on to find out our tips for getting the best car accident settlement possible.
Understand the Types of Damage You Can Claim For
The average settlement for a car accident does not just include damages for physical injuries. In fact, you can claim for a whole range of damages relating to your accident. This includes:
- Your medical bills and treatment
- Loss of earnings
- The increased cost of living (due to injuries)
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of a loved one in a car accident
Because of this, it is important to reflect on how your accident has affected your whole life. You can discuss this fully with your lawyer when asking about car accident settlements. They will help you calculate how much to ask for.
Provide Strong Evidence
To get the best settlement possible for your injuries, you will need to build a strong case. These cases are less likely to be contested, so it’s important to have strong evidence to support your claim.
Your claim will need three types of evidence. These are:
- Evidence that proves damage caused by your accident (such as medical reports and loss of earnings)
- Evidence that links this damage directly to your accident
- Evidence that proves the other party was liable for your accident due to negligent driving
Negligent driving essentially includes breaking the laws of the road. The other driver might have exceeded the speed limit, disobeyed road signs, or not maintained their car properly.
Make a Claim For a Car Accident Settlement As Soon As Possible
It is a good idea to make a claim for your car accident as soon as possible in California.
Leaving your case for a long time can help the liable party’s lawyers. For example, they may try to claim that your damages have been caused since your car accident.
The closer you are to an accident, the easier it is for you to gather evidence about it. For example, most CCTV recordings will be wiped after a couple of months and it can be hard to track down eyewitnesses. Without a strong body of evidence, you won’t be able to claim as much in your settlement.
Car accident claims are also covered by the statute of limitations. This means that you have two years from the date of your accident to make your claim.
Be Patient
A typical car accident settlement will not come through quickly. Even if the liable party accepts blame and wants to pay, there is a lot of paperwork to process.
In most cases, both parties will negotiate a little on the settlement figure. So you should have an idea of the compensation you need to cover your expenses.
The liable party’s lawyers may try to string things out to get you to lower your settlement request.
Sticking to your figure may prolong the process but it will ensure that you get a fair outcome. If you are concerned about how long the process is taking, discuss this with your lawyer. They will advise you on whether it is a good idea to lower your settlement figure or not.
Get Support From an Expert Car Accident Lawyer
If you want to make a successful claim and get a fair settlement you should hire a car accident lawyer. These lawyers have expert knowledge of California laws.
This means that they can quickly assess your case and calculate the biggest settlement possible. Once you have hired them, your lawyer will:
- Contact the liable party on your behalf
- Collect evidence to support your car accident claim
- Represent you in negotiations with the liable party
- File all the necessary paperwork for your claim
- Represent you in court (if your case goes this far)
Hiring a lawyer also shows people that you are serious about getting a fair settlement. This means that you have a lot of negotiating power when dealing with the liable party. This can help you secure a big settlement in a short space of time.
If you are making a claim through your insurance company then you should always speak to a lawyer first. Insurance companies are experts in underpaying in claims. Having a lawyer on-side will ensure that they take your claim seriously.
Organize a Free Consultation With Ontario Accident Lawyers Today
As you can see, a lot of work goes into securing a successful car accident settlement.
Taking the time to gather the evidence needed before you file your claim will ensure that your case is as strong as possible. So make sure you do this with the help of an expert car accident lawyer.
Have you been in a car accident in the last two years? Then get in touch with Ontario Accident Law to organize a free case consultation today. We’re happy to help.
