Your Settlement’s Too Low: Tips from an Oklahoma Car Accident Attorney
Your suspicions are correct: there are now more cars in the country than ever. According to 2014 data from Statista.com, over 250 million motor vehicles roam the country. Unfortunately, more cars mean a higher incidence of accidents on the road.
According to a study by CarInsurance.com, an accident may be just around the corner. Its research indicates the average person gets into an accident every 17.9 years. If you live to be 80, that’s about four crashes you’ll experience over a lifetime.
Further, if you’ve ever been in an accident, you know that costs can be exorbitant. Luckily, the law can mandate the driver at fault to reimburse the victim for damages. But, according to Little, Oliver & Gallagher, a law firm that handles Oklahoma car accident cases, the amount you’re asking for may be too low.
Don’t Forget About Suffering
When settling a car accident suit, the goal of most victims is to get compensation for their physical injuries. Unfortunately, they fail to account for suffering caused by such injuries. For instance, an injured knee may render you unable to play golf like you once could. Or, perhaps lingering pain from a fractured bone may have turned your life into a living hell.
Account for Lost Wages, Too
Even relatively minor injuries can render you unable to work. The more severe your injuries are, the longer you’ll be out of work, and the more wages you’ll fail to earn. While this aspect of your plea may not seem as pressing as getting compensation for injuries and vehicle repair, it’s actually one of the most important areas to look into when deciding how much to seek in compensation.
You May Have Hidden Injuries
Assume you experience a fender bender. Because you wore your seatbelt, you find no discernible injury on your body. So, you don’t sue for physical damages, just vehicle repair. A few days later, your neck starts hurting, possibly a symptom of a hidden injury.
As you might know, your body produces hormones during traumatic moments that often mask pain. So, just to be safe, obtain a thorough checkup, even for minor accidents, so that all injuries are diagnosed.
Of course, getting the proper recompense is not an easy task, especially if you will be negotiating directly with the other driver’s insurance adjuster. To get the amount you deserve, consider working with an experienced Oklahoma car accident lawyer.
For more information contact one of our highly qualified Attorneys in the Oklahoma City area call (405) 253-4478 or our main office in Ardmore (580) 798-0447.
Sources:
Should Your Car Accident Claim Include Pain and Suffering?, alllaw.com
Tips for Negotiating With an Insurance Company, nolo.com
How Many Times Will You Crash Your Car?, forbes.com