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Often, insurance companies will try to negotiate a low settlement amount. They may argue that your injuries aren’t related to your accident or that your lengthy physical therapy was unnecessary.
When this happens, knowing your rights as a plaintiff is essential. Your lawyer can help you protect your interests and negotiate a fair settlement.
Medical Records
The job of a personal injury attorney is to ensure their clients are fully compensated for their losses and that the liable party is held accountable. This involves presenting strong evidence of both parties’ faults, adhering to important deadlines, and weighing the pros and cons of entering litigation.
As a result, most personal injury claims are resolved through settlement negotiations. This often requires a high degree of skill and experience.
During these negotiations, personal injury lawyers must be able to demonstrate that their client’s damages are worth more than the initial insurance company offer. To do this, they must be familiar with the value of pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages.
This is why a personal injury victim’s medical records are crucial in negotiating a settlement. They provide direct or indirect evidence of injuries, the probability of future treatment, and other factors that can be used to calculate damages.
Police Reports
Police reports are crucial evidence that lawyers on the side of a defendant use to build a case. They provide essential information about the crash scene, such as whether traffic lights were present and who was at fault.
In addition, police reports often include witness statements important to a settlement negotiation. They can also help determine whether or not you can claim compensation for your medical bills and pain and suffering.
People file police reports for various reasons, including domestic disputes, traffic accidents, burglaries, home invasions, fraud, theft, and violence. They usually call 911 or their local police department’s non-emergency line to report the incident, and dispatchers then assign an officer to the location.
Many police departments release these reports to the public, but some have strict policies about how sensitive information is removed or edited. For example, they may block out names of witnesses who could be injured if their identity is revealed.
Wage Statements
Regarding a settlement negotiation, your client’s wage statements can help you determine their lost wages and missed work opportunities. These documents may also show how their families are affected by accidents.
Aside from figuring out what your client’s wages are worth, you’ll need these records to calculate any medical bills they’ve incurred due to the accident. Getting this information can help you negotiate a higher settlement amount.
The negotiation process begins with your lawyer providing a written proposal for settlement to the insurance adjuster or defendant’s lawyer. The parties then trade offers back and forth through phone calls and other communications.
Expert Witnesses
Expert witnesses can play an essential role in a settlement negotiation. They provide opinions and analyses based on their specialized knowledge of complex issues.
A personal injury lawyer can consult with expert witnesses to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the case. They can also help a lawyer understand the issues and prepare for depositions.
Financial experts can help determine damages. These professionals often use multiple records and evidence to calculate lost income.
Whether you’re seeking compensation for medical bills, missed work, or other damages, a financial expert can help explain your situation and quantify your losses.
However, a skilled attorney will carefully evaluate any potential expert witness before retaining them to ensure no conflicts of interest. Identifying direct disputes, such as the witness working for the other side in the same matter or related litigation, is an important step.
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