Tips on How to Increase Your Personal Injury Claim Settlement

When negligence on the part of another party is why you were injured, then you may take legal action and file a personal injury claim to obtain the financial compensation you need to cover your damages. For example, car accidents are the most common reasons personal injury claims are filed. Every year, thousands of car accidents reported in Oregon result in those involved suffering injuries. In fact, recently, the Oregon Department of Transportation reported that there were 23,729 non-fatal injury accidents.

Usually, in the aftermath of an injury accident, especially one where one suffers extensive physical bodily harm, strategies for maximizing one’s settlement amount are generally not top of mind. Accidents can be jarring and stressful. However, when the dust settles and medical treatment has been sought, deciding to see an attorney for assistance with a personal injury claim can be advantageous. An attorney can evaluate your injury accident experience, estimate its value, determine who is liable for paying you, and handle your claim to help you secure the most from it.

In addition to managing your claim, your attorney can advise you on best practices or tips to ensure maximum recovery. The reason is that there are things that you do that can harm your chances of recovery, and there are things to do to help you get the most out of your claim.

When an injury accident happens, collecting evidence is critically important to help you prove the extent of your damages. So taking pictures or obtaining videos of your accident, keeping all medical bills and doctors’ notes, and speaking to witnesses are all examples of helpful forms of evidence you can use in your claim. In addition to evidence gathering, there are two other incredibly important tips to remember when you start the claims process.

Read on as our Portland personal injury attorneys at Rosenbaum Law Group discuss two critical actions to know about when filing a claim for financial compensation after an injury accident.

Getting the Most From Your Personal Injury Claim 

If you do not have an attorney and you are speaking with the insurance company to obtain a settlement, be wary of their first offer. The first offer is often never the best, but the insurance company’s goal is to get off the hook and close claims as quickly and cheaply as possible. If you eagerly accept the first settlement offer, the insurance company will consider your claim closed. It will generally then be able to avoid having to pay you more in the future when you realize your damages were far higher than what your settlement paid you.

Next, in the interest of paying little to nothing to claimants, the insurance adjuster will be scouring your social media accounts. It is best during the claims process to stay off of social media or keep your accounts private. Even asking friends and family not to mention you on their social media can be helpful. If the insurance company finds something that they can use against you to pay you less than you deserve, they will. So avoid social media if you can while you have an active personal injury claim in the works.

Speak to an Oregon Personal Injury Attorney Today 

When a negligent party’s actions are why you have been injured and sustained losses, your claim should reflect the full amount of damages you suffered. You deserve to be paid in full for everything you had to endure. To ensure that you are best positioned for the highest settlement amount possible from your claim, please call the Rosenbaum Law Group at (503) 288-8000 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Portland personal injury lawyer.

Source:

oregon.gov/odot/Data/Documents/QuickFacts_2021.pdf