Coping With Permanent Injuries From an Auto Accident

Increasingly, modern vehicles have become a lot safer over the years. In spite of more airbags, enhanced construction, and other safety features, accidents still cause serious injuries every day. When speed is a factor and the damage is catastrophic, a safer vehicle can only do so much. If you have been seriously and permanently injured because of a careless driver, you are entitled to a higher level of compensation than ordinary victims might be. Read on for some tips to ensure you get paid the money damages you deserve.

If your injury is not expected to be fully healed in a few months, don't make a move without legal help. Your injury might not ever fully heal and you could be left with a lifetime of pain, lost income, and future medical needs. It's all too easy to make big mistakes when dealing with your insurance claim and compensation at this time if you don't have legal representation.

You might be surprised at how aggressive the other driver's insurer will be. They may contact you very soon after the accident and mention a settlement. They may already realize that their client was at-fault for the accident. That will prompt the insurance adjuster to contact you and offer you money to resolve the case.

Being contacted by the adjuster may mean that they want to settle, but it could also be an attempt to jeopardize your chances of getting paid what you deserve. The recorded phone call may be filled with open-ended questions in which victims may speak freely and say things they later regret about the accident or their injuries. For example, an accident victim that expresses regret over the injuries of the other driver could be seen as admitting partial fault. If you are found to be at fault in any way, your compensation could be severely reduced. By the way, victims don't have to speak to the accident adjuster. Let your personal injury lawyer take care of that job.

The financial impact of being unable to work after a serious accident cannot be underestimated. Unfortunately, that can make some accident victims vulnerable to settlement offers that are far too small. Before you accept a settlement, run it by a personal injury lawyer so you will know you are being paid what you deserve for all of your damages. Damages, in the case of a car accident, include:

• Medical treatment expenses
• Future medical needs
• Lost wages/lost career opportunities
• Pain and suffering
• Personal property damage and losses

The best way to ensure you are compensated for your losses is to use a personal injury lawyer to negotiate on your behalf. That way, your settlement will pay for your needs for a long time. To learn more, contact a personal injury lawyer near you.