Many vehicle accident victims do not know how to seek financial compensation. Hire an experienced lawyer early to avoid mistakes. An experienced Atlanta personal injury law firm attorney can analyze your accident and establish your personal injury claim or lawsuit eligibility. Your lawyer can file your claim and negotiate with insurance companies if you can.
If the insurance company does not considerably improve its offer after settlement negotiations, your lawyer can file a lawsuit and take your matter to a civil jury trial or binding arbitration. At one of these proceedings, your lawyer will vigorously advocate for you and maximize your injury damages.
An Attorney Can Help In Different Ways
Getting legal help early in your vehicle accident claim or lawsuit is crucial. The sooner you hire a lawyer, the better your odds of settling or winning your case.
To prove your claim or case, a qualified automobile accident lawyer can assist you in gathering relevant documents.
Required paperwork may include:
- Related medical bills and records
- Photos of your visible injuries
- Photographs of the accident site and property damage.
- Lost income documents
- Prior income tax returns
- Police reports
- Firsthand accounts of the accident
Your attorney can gather these papers while you recover from the injury.
- Creating a Demand Letter and Claim for You
Next, your vehicle accident lawyer can help you write a settlement demand letter and package your claim. Demand letters describe the accident and your injuries and demand a payout within insurance policy limits.
All of the above papers supporting your claim will be included with this demand letter by your attorney. The insurance adjuster will analyze the information and make a settlement offer.
- Negotiating with Insurance Company Reps
After filing a personal injury claim, your attorney can negotiate a settlement with the insurance company adjuster.
Insurance companies often make this difficult. They refuse to settle cases early with favorable monetary damages. Insurance firms want accident victims to settle fast and cheaply. The insurance company loses much money on significant personal injury settlements, jury verdicts, and binding arbitration awards. Car accident adjusters will do everything possible to minimize a claim’s value and pay.
- Your Court Case
A professional vehicle accident lawyer can litigate your case in court as well as negotiate with adjusters.
Your attorney files a lawsuit on your behalf to start litigation. Your matter may not go to a jury trial merely because your lawyer files a suit.
Most car accident cases are settled out of court. If every traffic accident case went to trial, it would overwhelm the court system.
- Trial or Dispute Resolution
After deposition, the insurance adjuster may give more. If not, the parties might try their matter in a civil jury. During the trial, the jury will decide all disputes, including damages and compensation. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options include mediation and binding arbitration.