How a Car Accident Claim Settlement Usually Works

Very few Georgia car accident lawsuits actually go to trial. Trials have a tendency to drag on for many months and they are seldom cost-effective. This is why car accident cases are mostly settled in out of court agreements, with Columbus, GA accident lawyers.

Some of the best negotiations in the history of the world have taken place in a coffee shop or a restaurant with ideas and numbers written on a table napkin. If huge ideas that affect thousands of people can be worked out this way, there is no reason that an accident lawsuit cannot be worked out in a similar manner. Over the phone, in a law firm’s office, that works too.

To settle your case you will have to draft a compelling demand letter and involve a Columbus accident lawyer who will conduct persuasive negotiations on your behalf for fast or quicker settlement.

No one said life is easy but using this digital tool (Accident.USAttorneys.com) is. If you need legal help, you need to use that website to secure legal assistance. Once you do this, with just a little effort, you can explain your story to the legal counselor and you two can be on your way targeting the opposition.  

How to Draft a Compelling Demand Letter

Accident attorneys in Georgia believe that the demand letter should contain all the facts of the accident as well circumstances that led to the accident. This is not the time to embellish things or tell some Princess Bride story or a Harry Potter tale. You do not need to mention that the crash was like seeing Galvetron trying to tear apart your car either. That is not necessary. You can save the theatrics for Facebook or the next time you are camping and sitting around a campfire roasting some marshmallows.  

Moreover all the expenses and the losses that you have incurred must be provided in the letter. For the most part, the objective of the demand letter is to provide a thrust for negotiations.

The letter must entail a description of the events that culminated into the accident, detailed facts about the type of medical treatment that the plaintiff received, and an account of all the expenses and income loss.

The letter usually demands an amount from the insurer which is significantly higher than the compensation the plaintiff is ready to accept. This is done so that the Columbus accident legal representative has enough leverage when negotiating a settlement for a car accident claim with the insurer.

Negotiating

The next phase is the negotiations. This will start once the insurer has evaluated the demand letter and documents that you have provided to substantiate your claim. The process will take a few days after which the insurer will make their offer which is often substantially lower than the demand that you have made. Columbus, GA accident lawyers explain that this offer is actually much less than what the insurance provider is willing to pay and therefore it is always sagacious to refrain from accepting the insurer’s first offer.

You must provide the insurance company with a written response citing reasons why you rejected their offer. The reasons may vary from person to person. However, some of the common grounds of rejection are inadequate compensation which is not enough to cover your medical bills or for the pain and suffering. This letter will also have a counter demand. It must also include all the important facts provided in the initial demand letter.

Negotiations usually continue in this manner for some time. However, if you do not get any response or counter offers from the insurance company for a long time ask your legal professional to find out if they need additional information. You can furnish them with other proof such as letters and documents from your physician, photographs taken from the accident scene, any scars, and so on.

Mediation

Often when negotiations fail then the services of a mediator become essential to reach an agreement. Personal injury lawyers who have extensive experience of trying and settling accident cases act as mediators. The role of a mediator is to bring a fresh perspective to the case. The mediator will point out the strengths and weaknesses of the stand taken by the parties and guide them towards an amicable and/or sensible solution.

At some point the plaintiff is bound to receive an acceptable offer. However, it is prudent to determine that all the expenses are accounted for, including your attorney’s fees.

If you have suffered extensive injuries and significant financial losses due to a car accident, make sure to consult with a Georgia accident lawyer without further delay. Your legal representative will help with the insurance claims and in filing a lawsuit in case settlement negotiations fail. You may have to go to trial!