Cleveland Personal Injury Lawyer: 7 Tips When Negotiating a Car Accident Insurance Claim November 22, 2012.

According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, more than 72,000 people were injured and 941 people died in accidents in 2011. If you were recently injured in a collision, you may find settlement negotiations with the insurance company to be as stressful as the accident itself. How do you know whether you’re getting a fair amount or being low-balled? Personal injury lawyers can help.

Tips for Negotiating Your Car Accident Claim

Keep the following in mind while negotiating your settlement:

Know the limits on your insurance policy and how that may impact your claim. Understand your coverage, limits, and any other applicable information that could be relevant to your claim.

It’s important to keep all receipts for any car repairs and bills for any medical treatment received. In addition, you should have documentation that shows how much time from work you have missed. Keep all of this information in one folder so you can easily locate it. This will help in calculating the expenses of your accident and injuries.

If someone else was at fault for your car accident, you will need to prove this. Some of the types of evidence that can be helpful when negotiating personal injury claims are police reports, witness statements, medical records, and any photographs you are able to take at the scene.

Make sure you have handwritten documentation of any future medical care you will need. When negotiating, it’s vital that you include this because you could end up paying those expenses down the road if they aren’t included in the claim. You should also include future earnings that you will lose as you recover from your injury.

Expect the insurance company to offer less than what you deserve. In fact, you can be sure they will try to settle your claim quickly and at minimal expense. While it may sound enticing to get your money sooner, it may not be a fair amount and could leave you with financial burden.

Although you may have a good idea as to the worth of your claim, think about the lowest amount you would accept that will cover your expenses and costs. Remember, once you accept the insurance company’s offer, additional compensation can never be recovered.

A personal injury lawyer’s job is to look out for your best interests. If the car accident caused serious, disabling, or life-threatening injuries, contact an attorney who offers a free consultation. Not only could you be entitled to compensation that addresses your medical expenses and lost wages, but other forms of reimbursement may be available as well. For instance, you could be eligible to receive compensation for pain and suffering, disability, mental anguish and more.