If you’ve been injured in a car accident and would like to pursue compensation, contact a top car accident lawyer Queens NY residents trust.
As an experienced car accident lawyer Queens NY can offer might attest, car accident injury claims can often be resolved outside of the courtroom. Although some cases might justify or even require an in-court lawsuit, many accident victims can obtain fair compensation through a negotiation and with the help of a skilled Queens NY car accident lawyer. If you believe that your injuries might warrant a settlement negotiation, here are a few things to know about typical injury settlement processes:
The First Step: A Demand Letter
As a top car accident lawyer Queens NY can provide might advise, an injured accident victim who is seeking compensation might begin by sending a formal demand letter (and this is something that an experienced lawyer can help with). This letter details the claimant’s injuries, medical costs, lost wages, and any other applicable financial losses. A thorough letter would likely detail the events of the accident, information about the injuries sustained, and information about the medical treatment required. This letter might also take into consideration the pain and suffering that the claimant has sustained as a result of his/her injury.
Negotiating a Settlement
Insurance companies are not always willing to provide the amount that the claimant details in the demand letter, as a skilled car accident lawyer in Queens NY would likely know. Insurance companies might attempt to downplay the claimant’s injuries, to dispute liability charges, or to argue that the claimant was partially responsible for the accident.
Negotiating a car accident settlement is a fairly common way of working out reasonable compensation without going to court. These settlements are often addressed through mediation or through arbitration, and claimants may hire a lawyer or legal team to serve as representatives in these discussions.
Accepting the Offer
A claimant shouldn’t necessarily feel pressured to accept the first counter-offer that the insurance company provides. This counter-offer might be very reasonable in some cases, but it might be far lower than what the claimant truly deserves in other cases. This is why many claimants choose to work with a local lawyer who can help assess past, present, and future financial losses of an accident injury. After accepting an offer, the insurer and the claimant typically sign a binding document that the matter has been resolved and that the agreed-upon payment will suffice as fair compensation.
Contact a Local Car Accident Lawyer Queens NY Can Depend Upon
Car accident cases can be very complicated. To get more information about your situation, contact a car accident lawyer Queens NY residents trust.