If you’ve been hurt in a car crash caused by another driver’s negligence and have grounds to sue that driver over your crash-related losses, you have the right to continue progressing your claim through the civil court system until a judge hands down a final verdict if you wish to do so. It usually makes more sense in practice for everyone involved in a case like this to agree to a settlement out of court. That’s how the vast majority of car accident claims conclude.
Just because private settlements are a common way for claims of this nature to end doesn’t mean that getting a good outcome from settlement talks is easy, especially if you try to go through those talks without a seasoned car accident lawyer’s support. With help from our respected and experienced attorneys, you can streamline the process of settling a car accident case in Mt Laurel and give yourself the best possible chances of getting paid everything you deserve.
Be Careful When Talking to Insurance Adjusters After a Car Crash
One thing that’s vital to keep in mind when talking about car accident case settlements in Mt Laurel is that no matter what they say or how they act when speaking with you, insurance adjusters and the companies they work for are not on your side. These companies are for-profit businesses that make money by taking in premiums without paying out the same amount or more on claims. They do anything and everything they can to minimize their own liability for your losses after a wreck.
You should always be cautious about accepting an initial settlement offer from any insurance company after a traffic wreck, especially if the offer is made before you have a chance to negotiate terms. You should always be truthful with insurance adjusters, but you should also be careful not to provide information they don’t explicitly ask for and not to make guesses about what happened or whether you’re at fault for your wreck. Legal counsel can help ensure you don’t make any mistakes.
Lump-Sum Versus Structured Settlements
Something else a legal professional can help you with while settling a Mt Laurel car accident claim is figuring out what type of final settlement agreement you’d most benefit from. You have two choices in this regard: a lump sum payment, where you get the entire agreed-upon settlement amount all at once in a single check, or a structured settlement, where you get portions of your total settlement paid out to you over time on a predetermined schedule.
Both types of settlements have their benefits and drawbacks, depending on what types of injuries you’ve sustained, what losses you need to deal with as a result, and even how you prefer to manage your own finances. In addition to helping you understand and choose a type of settlement, your legal representative can also guide you through any tax implications you may have for certain losses covered by your settlement, as well as any effect your settlement might have on public benefits you’re already receiving, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid.
Talk to a Mt Laurel Attorney About Settling a Car Accident Case
The settlement negotiation process for an injury claim can be frustrating, time-consuming, and potentially legally complex. However, going through it can be key to protecting your long-term best interests in the wake of a traumatic car crash. It isn’t a process you have to go through entirely on your own.
If you need help settling a car accident case in Mt Laurel, our attorneys are ready to provide custom-tailored guidance from start to finish of your negotiations. Call Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today to learn more.
