If you or a family member have been the victim of a personal injury accident, don’t just accept the other party’s negligence. And don’t accept the first settlement offer without talking to an attorney.
You are not at fault for the accident. You shouldn’t pay the cost of its consequences. Virginia law allows personal injury victims to file a claim against the responsible parties.
At River Run Law, we want you to know how to increase the settlement value of your case. Steps such as having an attorney, documenting evidence, and accurately counting costs can help you recoup your damages.
Let our seasoned attorneys at River Run Law help you hold the parties responsible for your injuries accountable. We have earned millions of dollars for our clients. Let us help you.
Contact us today to get started.
1. Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
There are many reasons why hiring a personal injury attorney can increase the value of your settlement. At River Run Law, we specialize in personal injury cases such as:
- Car accidents,
- Motorcycle accidents,
- Truck accidents,
- Wrongful death accidents,
- Workers’ compensation,
- Premises liability,
- Dog bite incidents,
- Pedestrian accidents, and
- Drunk driving accidents.
Our compassionate and resourceful attorneys are here to show you how to increase the settlement value of your personal injury case.
Take the Lead on the Case
You’re dealing with a lot after an accident. Personal injury cases can be complicated and time-consuming.
Having an attorney on your side takes the burden off your shoulders. You or your loved one are in pain, and your family’s financial situation has probably been damaged.
You have enough on your mind. We’ll get all the information from you and keep you updated on the progression of your case. Your primary focus should be getting better and caring for your family.
Deal with Paperwork
There’s a lot of paperwork and filings required in personal injury cases. Many of them are time-sensitive. Our attorneys have years of experience in these cases. We know what paperwork needs to be filed and when they need to be filed.
Forgetting paperwork or missing a deadline can have detrimental consequences for your case.
For example, Virginia has a two-year statute of limitations to file a personal injury claim. Once this deadline expires, you generally will lose the right to claim compensation from the negligent party.
Negotiate with Insurance Companies
Often you will be dealing with insurance companies. For example, in a car accident, the car insurance company is who will pay the settlement. Or, for a slip-and-fall case in a grocery store, the grocery store’s insurance company will pay the settlement.
It’s essential to know that insurance companies are a business and care about their bottom line. Therefore, they want to get rid of your insurance claim as soon as possible and with the least amount of money. They will try three strategies.
The first is to make you an offer. Note that many times, this offer is much lower than what your case is worth.
The second strategy is to drag your case out. Insurance companies will take their time. They know you are struggling financially.
The longer they take, the more susceptible you will be to any offer they make. After a while, your financial situation will be so unstable that you will be tempted to take anything they offer.
The third strategy is to fight your claim. Insurance companies will negate their negligence and pin the blame on you.
Having an attorney on your side will ensure that any settlement offered is fair and reasonable in light of your situation. At River Run Law, we will aggressively pursue your case and negotiate with insurance companies for the best possible outcome.
2. Collect Evidence
Another strategy to increase your personal injury settlement value is to keep documentation of everything. To prove a successful negligence claim, you need evidence. Therefore, from the beginning, you need to collect it.
At the scene of the accident, document everything. If you can, take photos. For example, in a truck accident, take pictures of the car and the other vehicle involved.
Also, get the contact details of the other parties involved and any witnesses. Your attorney will use this information to build your case.
Regarding any injuries you or a loved one suffered, save any medical invoices. These will be used later by your attorney to calculate your damages. Obtain the police report if there was a police presence at the time of the accident.
3. Accurately Calculate the Value of Your Claim
Another way to increase the value of your personal injury case is to calculate your claim’s value accurately. But how is the settlement value calculated?
You need to add up all the financial and psychological suffering you and your family endured because of the accident. It’s imperative that you don’t forget anything. You want to get the largest compensation possible.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are damages that can be quantified. Proof of these damages is evidenced in healthcare bills. You can also show pay stub history, highlighting income before and after the accident.
Medical Expenses
Examples of medical expenses include the following:
- Emergency room visits,
- Hospital stays,
- Doctor invoices,
- Diagnostic tests,
- Surgeries,
- Therapy,
- Long-term care, and
- Rehabilitation.
These invoices are critical in proving your damages. Your attorney will help you add them up. Additionally, Virginia is a collateral source state, so the amount of bills you can claim is different than the out of pocket costs you may have incurred.
Lost Income
It’s common to miss days of work after an accident. Some people miss weeks or even months. It depends on the severity of the injury. You can collect your lost income as damages in a personal injury case.
You may also be able to collect loss of earning capacity. This arises when injuries prevent you from performing the duties of your job or make you take a less demanding job with a lower salary. You may be able to recoup the difference.
Noneconomic Damages
Noneconomic damages account for the emotional and mental toll the personal injury had on the victim. They can be more difficult to calculate. Examples include:
- Pain and suffering,
- Loss of consortium,
- Loss of enjoyment of life,
- Mental anguish, and
- Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Calculating the settlement value of a case can be complicated. However, our experienced attorneys will analyze your documents to determine the value of your claim.
Contact River Run Law for a Free Case Evaluation
Contact our office to learn more about increasing the settlement value of your personal injury case.
At River Run Law, our lawyers have earned numerous honors, including Super Lawyer’s, Best Lawyers Awards, Go-To Attorney’s by Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly, top law firm in Richmond, Virginia and the National Trial Lawyer’s Top 40 Under 40. Let us help you and your family get the maximum settlement you deserve.
Money is not a priority for us. But justice for you and your family is. You pay us nothing unless we win your case. Don’t delay.
Contact us now and speak to our personal injury attorneys.
Where You Can Find Our Richmond Office
Brooke Alexander
Brooke graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law after receiving her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Brooke worked for five years in private practice with a law firm specializing in insurance defense litigation before becoming the trial litigator for Allstate Insurance Company in the metro Richmond area.
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