The timing and handling of a personal injury claim is everything.
Insurance companies rush you to put the injury behind you. But you should never accept a hasty settlement. If you do, be careful of how corporations and insurance companies try to rush people. They may push innocent folks like you to accept less than what they deserve.
How to Determine if Your Personal Injury Claim is Accurately Valued
As many as one in five people sought medical attention for injuries in 2023. Many accident and injury victims, like you, accept lower settlements than they deserve. But by understanding your claim’s true value, you’re more confident in your recovery. This is especially true if an experienced personal injury attorney helps you.
By spotting the signs of a low offer, you can avoid accepting less than you deserve. Instead, equip yourself with the right information and explore options for a better financial future.
1. Your Insurance Company is Rushing You
After suffering an accident or dealing with property damage, you want to put it all behind you. Many folks want to accept the first settlement offer from an insurance company. However, rushing to settle your claim can be one of your biggest long-term mistakes.
How It Leads to An Undervalued Claim
Insurance companies often make lowball offers, expecting you to be in financial trouble. They do this to save money, not to cover all your damages.
Our personal injury lawyers help you understand the true value of your claim. They consider medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and more. The lawyer will also negotiate for you. This ensures that any settlement offer is fair and reflects the compensation you deserve.
2. You Didn’t Consider Future Medical Costs
When you have an injury, it’s too easy to think only about your current bills. However, injuries can also create future costs. Some injuries need long-term care, rehabilitation, or future surgeries.
How It Leads to An Undervalued Claim
Many claimants only consider their current medical bills. They overlook potential ongoing medical care. Short-sightedness often leads to a settlement that does not cover future medical needs. This may force you to pay out of pocket later.
One of our experienced attorneys can evaluate your medical prognosis. This way, we can ensure that you factor future medical costs into your claim. This makes a huge difference for years down the road.
3. You Did Not Include Pain and Suffering
When filing a personal injury lawsuit, many folks only think about economic damages. These include medical bills and lost wages. However, don’t forget mental anguish. The law considers them to be non-economic damages.
And they are just as important.
How It Leads to An Undervalued Claim
Non-economic damages, such as pain and lower quality of life, are hard to measure. For example, emotional distress from not being able to join activities is a non-economic damage. Many survivors do not know they can get compensation for these important, but less visible, losses.
Our personal injury attorneys know how to calculate non-economic damages for your case. They look at past cases and legal rules to make sure you get fair compensation for your pain and suffering.
4. You Didn’t Discuss Lost Wages or Future Earnings
An injury doesn’t just affect your immediate medical bills. It also affects your ability to work, including missing shifts or losing earnings. You should always include lost wages in your claim.
How It Leads to An Undervalued Claim
Many claimants prioritize their short-term wage loss. They don’t consider the long-term financial impact of their injury. If your injury affects your ability to work in the future, your compensation should reflect that potential loss.
Our trial attorneys can help you calculate past lost wages and the potential impact on your future earning capacity. This ensures that your settlement considers how your injury affected your financial stability.
5. You Didn’t Hire an Experienced Accident & Injury Attorney for Your Personal Injury Claim
One common reason people undervalue their personal injury claims is that they try to handle everything alone or they are not aware of how long a claim takes. Without legal representation, you may not know the true value of your claim or your rights. You might also miss the tricks insurance companies use to lower payouts. Getting legal help can give you security and protection.
How It Leads to An Undervalued Claim
Insurance companies are experts at negotiating lowball claims. Without a lawyer on your side, you’re at a significant disadvantage. You may end up accepting an inadequate settlement.
If This Sounds Familiar…
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, nearly 400,000 personal injury claims are filed annually nationwide. When filing a claim, avoid these costly mistakes by consulting our personal injury attorneys. We’ll evaluate your case and accurately calculate your damages. We won’t stop fighting for your fair settlement.
Don’t leave money on the table. If you recognize any of these signs, contact Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys today. Your first consultation is always free.
