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How to Get the Most Money from Your Car Accident Settlement in Bloomington, IL
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Bloomington, IL, due to someone else’s negligence, you have a right to seek fair financial compensation for your losses. A settlement can help pay for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. However, insurance companies are not on your side. Their goal is to pay out as little as possible.
To get the most money from your Bloomington car accident settlement, you need to take the right steps to protect your rights and build a strong claim.
Here’s what you should do:
Get Medical Attention Right Away.
Your health and well-being should be the top priority after any accident. Even if you feel okay, get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. Some injuries like concussions or whiplash may not present symptoms immediately.
Promptly seeking treatment establishes a record of your injuries and shows the insurance company you are taking them seriously. Follow all of your doctor’s recommendations for treatment, medication, and follow-up visits.
Document Everything.
To maximize your settlement, you need strong evidence of the other party’s fault and the extent of your damages. If safe to do so, take photos of the accident scene, vehicles, and your visible injuries. Get contact info for any witnesses.
Keep a “pain journal” documenting how your injuries impact your daily life. Save all medical records and bills related to the crash. The more documentation you have, the stronger your claim for compensation.
Don’t Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company.
The other driver’s insurance adjuster may ask you to give a recorded statement about what happened. Politely decline. They can take your words out of context to minimize your claim. Let them know that all communications should go through your attorney. Speaking of which…
Hire an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer.
Trying to handle your claim on your own rarely gets you the best settlement. Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers working to pay you as little as possible. To level the playing field, you need an experienced Bloomington car accident attorney in your corner.
At Onward Injury Law, our attorneys focus solely on personal injury cases, including car accident claims. We have a proven track record of success in getting our clients the maximum compensation they deserve. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay us anything unless we win money for you.
When you hire us, we’ll handle every aspect of your claim, including:
- Conducting a thorough investigation of the accident
- Gathering evidence of fault and damages
- Consulting with experts to build a strong case
- Handling all communications and negotiations with the insurance company
- Filing a lawsuit and representing you in court if needed
Our goal is to take the stress of dealing with the legal process off your shoulders so you can focus on healing. We’ll fight tirelessly to get you every dollar you’re entitled to under the law.
Know What Your Claim is Worth.
Your settlement should account for all of the ways the accident has negatively impacted your life – physically, emotionally, and financially. Economic damages like medical expenses, lost income, and property damage are fairly straightforward to calculate.
Non-economic damages for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress are more subjective but often make up the largest part of your settlement. An experienced lawyer will help assess the full value of your claim so you don’t settle for less than you deserve.
File Your Claim Promptly.
In Illinois, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court. While this may seem like plenty of time, valuable evidence can be lost or destroyed in the weeks and months after a crash.
The sooner you involve a lawyer, the sooner they can start building your case and negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf. Prompt action also shows the insurer that you are serious about pursuing compensation.
Stay Off of Social Media.
While it can be tempting to vent online, it’s best to stay off of social media entirely while your claim is pending. The other side will be looking for any posts, photos, or check-ins they can use to undermine your case.
For example, a simple photo of you out with friends could be spun to argue your injuries aren’t that serious. Play it safe and press pause on social media until your case concludes.
Be Patient.
Maximizing your settlement takes time. While it may be tempting to take the insurance company’s first lowball offer to pay your bills, you could leave thousands of dollars on the table. Trust your lawyer to negotiate on your behalf and advise you on when a settlement offer is worth accepting.
In many cases, your attorney may need to file a lawsuit and pursue litigation to motivate the insurance company to pay full and fair compensation. While this extends your timeline, it’s often the only way to get the money you deserve.
Above all, remember that you aren’t in this alone. The aftermath of a serious crash can be an overwhelming and isolating time. But with the right personal injury lawyer in your corner, you can focus on healing while they handle the heavy lifting of your claim.
If you’ve been hurt in an accident in Bloomington, IL, contact the compassionate attorneys at Onward Injury Law for a free consultation. We’ll put our experience to work to get you the most money possible from your settlement so you can move onward after this difficult chapter. Request your free case evaluation today.
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