Between your medical bills, lost income, and possible reduced earning potential, an Alabama car accident is a massive financial burden. When you include intangible losses like your pain and suffering and reduced quality of life, the overall toll of the collision can be catastrophic. How do you recover compensation for all the harm you’ve suffered?
The best step you can take to recover maximum compensation after you were injured in a collision that wasn’t your fault is to work with an Alabama car accident lawyer. The Opelika car accident attorneys at Stokes Stemle, LLC, have extensive experience with these cases. Consider this testimonial from a former car accident client:
“Joshua Stemle and his team were extremely helpful after I was involved in a car accident. They answered all questions I had and helped me understand the claims process. I was very pleased with my results and would definitely recommend them to any one in need of a car accident lawyer.”
Call us or contact us online for a free consultation where you can learn how we can help you get maximum compensation after a car accident.
Types of Compensation Available in Car Accident Claims
One of the primary ways to maximize your settlement after a car accident is to include all your eligible losses in your claim. With support from a capable attorney, your car accident claim can include compensation for:
- Lost income while you heal from your injuries – An auto accident can keep you from working for weeks or months. Any income you lose while you heal is a core component of your car accident compensation.
- Reduced earning capacity – Depending on your injuries, you might not be able to return to your pre-injury work or may lose the ability to work altogether. You can seek compensation for your lost earning capacity as part of your claim.
- Current and future medical bills – While you can include your current medical expenses in a car accident claim, it’s also vital to include the cost of any future treatments you might need. An attorney can get estimates of these costs from your medical providers and include them in your claim.
- Pain and suffering – People often underestimate the effect intense pain has on their quality of life after an accident. You can and should include compensation for your pain and suffering in a car accident claim.
- Diminished quality of life – Your injuries might keep you from enjoying your favorite activities or prevent you from spending time with friends and family. If you experience a long-term drop in your quality of life after a collision, you can seek compensation for that loss.
- Damaged personal property – You might incur significant car repair expenses after a crash or have to replace your vehicle. You can include the cost to repair or replace your damaged property in a car accident claim.
What Affects Car Accident Compensation Amounts?
Some factors that affect your car accident compensation include:
Your Financial Losses
Medical bills, lost income, reduced earning capacity, and other financial losses from a car accident add up quickly. The greater your financial losses, the more compensation you can demand.
Your Injuries and Their Long-Term Impact
The nature and severity of your injuries are a major factor in your car accident claim. If your injuries impede your quality of life and are expected to have long-lasting effects, you can demand much more compensation in a car accident claim. This includes wages that you could have earned in the future had the accident not occurred.
The Liable Party’s Insurance Coverage
Insurance companies will only pay up to a policy’s limits for a claim. If your losses exceed the liable party’s coverage limits, you’ll have to find other avenues to seek compensation, such as looking for other potentially liable parties or filing a lawsuit against the liable party.
Your Legal Team
Some lawyers want to settle a case as quickly as possible and move on to the next client. To maximize your compensation, you need a determined legal team who will put the necessary time and effort into building your case and accounting for all your losses.
Tips for Maximizing Compensation in Your Car Accident Personal Injury Case
While you should let an attorney handle most of the work in a car accident claim, there are some steps you can take to increase your chances of recovering full compensation. First and foremost, make sure you seek medical attention immediately. Not only does seeing a doctor right away protect your health, but it also shows the insurance companies you’re taking your injuries seriously and starts a documentary record of the harm you’ve suffered.
When you see a doctor after an accident, be thorough without exaggerating your injuries. You want to make sure your doctor documents and treats all your injuries, but lying about or exaggerating your injuries could give an insurance company cause to reduce your compensation or deny your claim outright.
It’s also essential to save all your receipts after a car accident. These records demonstrate the crash’s financial impact and are crucial for maximizing your compensation.
Finally, start a journal once you’ve seen a doctor. Write down your daily pain levels and how your injuries impact your daily life. You can use your journal entries as evidence of your pain and suffering, making it easier to show the crash’s impact on your daily life.
Dos and Don’ts to Improve Your Chances at a Fair Car Accident Settlement
Here are a few simple rules to follow regarding Alabama car accident claims if you want to increase your chances of receiving a fair settlement:
Do:
- See a doctor immediately after an accident.
- Document the accident scene using your phone, if possible, before seeking treatment.
- Report the accident to the police and ask for a copy of the police report.
- Call a lawyer immediately.
On the other hand, here are some things to avoid after a collision:
Don’t:
- Avoid seeking medical treatment
- Lie about or exaggerate your injuries
- Discuss the crash with anyone, including on social media
- Give a recorded statement to an insurance company or accept a car accident settlement without talking to an attorney first
Car Accident Legal Checklist
Following these steps gives you the best chance of recovering full compensation for your injuries:
- Call the police immediately after the crash
- If your injuries permit, use your phone to document the crash scene and your injuries
- Seek medical attention right away
- Save all your medical records, receipts, and repair bills
- Report the accident to your insurance company, but stick to the basic facts and avoid discussing fault
- Contact an Alabama car accident attorney as soon as possible
Get Help from Our Opelika Car Accident Lawyers
Alabama law gives you two years from the date of a collision to file a lawsuit, so it’s critical to seek legal representation immediately.
Curious how to get the most compensation from a car accident claim? Call Stokes Stemle, LLC, today or complete our contact form for a free consultation with an Opelika car accident lawyer. We can evaluate your case and walk you through the process of what to do after a serious car accident.
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