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3 Important Things To Remember About Negotiation In A Personal Injury Claim

In an essence, a personal injury claim is a little like one big negotiation. You are claiming someone owes you for your injuries, and the other party is claiming they are not responsible. These cases involve a lot of negotiating between attorneys and you and the defendant. because negotiation is what will eventually lead you to a desirable outcome in your claim, it is important to understand negotiation and some of the things that can go on. 

You should wait to consider settlements until you are fully aware of medical costs. 

It is a common thing to file a claim early after a personal injury has occurred. In fact, it is better to do it early than to wait. What you do not want to do, however, is start negotiating a settlement offer before you are fully aware of what your full medical costs will be. The insurance company or other responsible parties may even offer a settlement early because they want to get out of paying all of your medical costs. They know some people will accept a settlement early on because they are already having a difficult time financially. The problem here is once a settlement has been accepted, you cannot pursue another claim to cover the rest of your losses. 

The more evidence you have, the more room you have to negotiate. 

there are good reasons why your personal injury attorney will be so adamant about gathering evidence for your claim. The more evidence you have to show that you are not at fault and the other party or entity is responsible, the more power your attorney will have to negotiate a settlement in your favor. Photos, witness statements, medical bills, medical records, and other documentation will serve as proof that what you are saying is true.

Never assume acceptance of liability means you should slack off your pursuit. 

In a personal injury claim, the responsible party or their attorney may state that they do accept liability for what happened. This sounds like a good thing, and in some respects, it is. However, in some situations, a defendant who knows they are going to lose will make this statement in an effort to get you to forgo ongoing pursuit of a fair settlement. You should never take this statement to its fullest meaning and do something crazy like stop documenting evidence or dropping your attorney. 

For more information, talk to an attorney at firms like Terrel DoRemus & Associates.