Our knowledge about law is limited especially in terms of a science or art student. Therefore, whenever there comes a situation where law and legal terms are involved, we need a lawyer. You might encounter an accident on road, it wasn’t your fault but you got hurt. If you have just started driving, your reaction won’t be normal.
There Might be two situations. Firstly, you will get into a verbal fight with the other driver and ask for compensation. Secondly, you will let him go because you do not want to get involved in a mess. Both of these situations will create a mess and you won’t get anything. Even if you ask for compensation and misbehave, you won’t get what you are aiming at.
Therefore, if you are not sure about your legal rights, it is best to hire an attorney. To get Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorneys like JTL Click here. They will not only make the situation favorable for you but will also strive hard to get the best outcome.
Hiring a lawyer is undoubtedly the best option but what if you do not want that? Well, there are still other options available. If you think you are smart enough and know some basics of legal terms that you should know. Try out these tricks first, you will save your lawyer’s fee. If the other party is still not willing to cooperate, the option of a lawyer is always available for you.
1. Do not let the other party know that you are in a hurry
This can cause you a serious loss. Therefore, it is better that you keep yourself calm and analyze the situation first. During accidents, insurance companies try to compensate you as quickly as possible. They will offer a small amount to check whether you agree with it or not. If you seem in a hurry, they will make you accept their offer.
Therefore, you should show them that you have all the time in the world.
Secondly, if you encounter an accident, how can you be sure of your injuries? Therefore, you should go to the hospital to get a full body checkup. It is highly likely that you do not feel pain right now but it will appear after a few hours. Likewise, many injuries appear after months. Getting a full body examination is a must-to-do thing after an accident.
Only in this way, you will be able to analyze the situation and ask for the right compensation. If you immediately accept their offer and get to know the medical situation later, you won’t be able to do anything. So think before you act.
2. Do not accept the first offer
This situation is quite similar to bargaining at a shop. The first offer is usually what the other party wants to offer. Who would willingly give you a high amount? Everyone loves money. Therefore, the first thing that you should do is to grasp the situation. If the insurance company is offering a price, do not settle for it. No one will give you the best settlement in the first voice unless the other party seems to be in a hurry.
But if they have involved their insurance company, then take your time too. Get your medical examination and look for anything wrong that needs treatment. Also, you need to get your car repaired and you might not know the cost of that. Therefore, check everything and get an estimated amount. This will help you with your negotiation.
In the worst-case scenario, you can just take them for a lawsuit. Insurance companies do not want that and therefore, they will negotiate with you. If there isn’t anything that you can think of and your medical records are also okay, consult a lawyer. He can tell you how much compensation you should get for your situation.
3. Preserve Evidence
This is the very first thing that you need to do. If you encounter any accident, take pictures of the incident. Furthermore, if you got any injury, record it as well. They are all evidence of the accident. You don’t know how the other party will behave eventually. Therefore, it is best that you prepare yourself for the worst situation.
In case you go for a lawsuit, the court would like to see the evidence of the accident. The better you attempt to preserve the proof, the stronger your case will be.
4. Keep your documents
You will end up with a damaged car and a medical situation. Even if your body is fine for now, you might face some future complications. All such things will be in your medical report. Likewise, if you got your car repaired, you should also keep the documents. All of these things will act as proof for your damage and you can ask for fair compensation.
Moreover, if the situation is not favorable and you need to go to court, they will be your proof. Thus, you will get the right amount to deal with all the expenses. If you have got treatment at the hospital after the injury, get that record as well. The payment slip should be attached with the other documents.
5. Explain your claim
If the accident costs you around $1000 and the insurance company is offering $500, you cannot fight with them. Of course, they want to pay a lesser amount. But the door for negotiation is always open for both parties. If you have suffered from a big loss and severe injuries, insurance companies will have to accept your claim.
Therefore, instead of fighting them over with them, show them the proof. You need to show them the damages that you have suffered. If you have the proof of your claim, they will accept it and compensate you accordingly. No need to panic over these things.