car accident lawyers in pascagoula

What Should I Do to Maximize My Car Accident Settlement?

The expenses that come with a car accident can overwhelm even the most financially secure family. Medical bills, the cost of a new car or significant repairs, and unexpected time away from work add up quickly. That’s why it’s so important to connect with a personal injury attorney after a crash. If you plan on seeking compensation, there are several things you can do to maximize your settlement.

Ready to start your claim and find out what comes next? Let’s sit down and talk. Call Gardner Law Firm at 228-436-6555 and set up a consultation now.

Use Your Time at the Scene Wisely

You have a limited amount of time to gather evidence at the scene of the crash, so take advantage of it. Anything you forget to photograph will almost certainly not be there the next time you return to the scene, so take more photos than you think you’ll need.

Take photos from different angles and distances. Make sure at least some of your photos have both vehicles’ license plates, as well as road signs or other markings that identify where the crash occurred. After you leave the scene, make sure you back up your photos so you can provide them to your attorney.

Stay in Touch with Eyewitnesses

Eyewitnesses can be incredibly valuable to your personal injury claim. If anyone stops at the scene to offer assistance or tell the police what they saw, get their contact information. While the insurance company is likely to take anything you say with a grain of salt, it’s harder for them to ignore what a neutral third party has to say.

Remember, though, that memories fade fast. To make the most of an eyewitness’s statement, they need to be interviewed fairly quickly after the collision. Otherwise, they’ll start forgetting key facts fairly quickly. Don’t wait too long to start your personal injury claim.

Seek Medical Care Immediately

This is one of the most important things to do after a car accident. Medical care is a huge component of most injury claims, and you must be able to prove that your injuries were caused by the accident. If you wait too long to see a doctor, it’s hard to prove that your injuries are the result of the accident.

The insurance company can then claim that something between the accident and your doctor’s appointment caused your injuries, which gives them more leverage during negotiations. Make it a priority to get checked out right after an accident, even if you don’t feel seriously injured. Prompt medical care is not only important for your injury claim, but for your overall health and well-being.

Talk to a Car Accident Attorney

After you’ve gotten checked out by a doctor and started collecting evidence, it’s time to talk to a car accident lawyer. This is a key part of maximizing your settlement. Insurance companies are very, very good at taking advantage of accident victims and paying them far less than they deserve. Without an attorney, you’ll fall into this trap and be worn down by the insurance adjuster.

Remember, this is an industry that spends a lot of money learning how to save money. Taking money out of victims’ hands is one of the easiest ways to boost their profit margins. When you hire an attorney, you prevent yourself from telling the insurance company anything that harms your case. While your attorney handles communication with the insurance company, you can go to your doctor’s appointments, take care of your car’s repairs or replacements, and focus on your recovery.

Find Out How Gardner Law Firm Can Help You

If maximizing your settlement is your top priority, you’ll want to talk to a car accident lawyer as soon as possible. While you do have time before the statute of limitations runs out, starting your claim as soon as possible is a wise choice. This allows you to use evidence before it degrades, use eyewitness testimony, and secure a settlement in time to pay your mounting medical bills.

Let Gardner Law Firm help you through this process. Our team of committed personal injury lawyers is here to help you. Call us at 228-436-6555 or send us a quick message online to schedule a consultation now.