Accidents are the most unpredictable events that can happen to a person as they can change the course or trajectory of a person’s life in just a moment. Ranging from a common slip to a fatal motorbike accident there are numerous ways by which a person could end up in unplanned situations. No one plans to get into accidents, therefore it is necessary that you are prepared if it comes.
To ensure you can take care of yourself financially, a personal injury lawsuit is the next best thing. However, not every insurance company goes to court; some might prefer an out-of-court settlement. Here you will need some good negotiating skills and your lawyer.
Keep reading for tips on how to negotiate a better settlement.
How Personal Injury Settlements Work in Louisiana
Personal injury cases, like many other types of cases, can take months before they get to court. It is not uncommon for both parties to settle before they get to court. Settlement agreements are usually guaranteed offers, so it is a common choice for both parties.
However, these negotiations are not always straightforward and could take months. After the accident, many facts are vague, and nothing is so sure at the time, meaning there can be no clarification on the party responsible for the accident and the cost of damages. However, as the litigation progresses, the parties begin to establish facts and introduce witnesses to understand the facts better and agree on different aspects of the case.
Most starting offer settlements are usually low, which is the exact reason why you should not take the first offer, no matter how tempting it looks. Some personal injury lawyers advise this, as insurance companies are always looking to pay less than the real cost. In fact, this is why you should hire a personal injury lawyer—insurance companies take cases with lawyers more seriously.
Settlement negotiations do not have a preset number of months; it could take as long as possible, even up to a day, to the trial before things are settled. In fact, some cases are settled out of court right on the day of
trial. Trials can take more finances than you think, and juries could swing in unpredictable ways, which is why parties usually agree to settle out of court. By choosing a settlement agreement, both parties can avoid the stress and cost of a jury trial.
Some Insurance Companies’ Tricks You Need to be Aware Of
Like every business, insurance companies are out to make a profit on every client, which means paying as little as possible. You must believe that they plan to pay less, no matter how kind they sound. After all, they deal with accident victims all the time, and you are no different.
However, as humans, they follow the same pattern and use the same tricks when working for clients. Here are some of these tricks insurance adjusters use:
- Trying to settle before you get an attorney
- Befriending you
- Hitting you with a supposedly tempting offer to confuse you
- Using your words against you
- Giving you deadlines to settle
- Employing private investigators to find out facts about the case behind your back
“Due to the way insurance companies in Louisiana conduct their business, you should get an equally experienced attorney to defend and protect you,” says Attorney Joseph G. Kopfler of Kopfler & Hermann. Having an attorney well-versed in the art of negotiation is always a plus.
Conclusion
Having an attorney to represent you in Louisiana is always a good choice, especially when the other party is an insurance company. The experienced attorney can help you with the case while you focus on healing from your injuries. You can ask your friends and family to recommend good personal injury attorneys and choose the best from the list.
Also Read: How a Personal Injury Accident Lawyer Plays a Crucial Role in Your Personal Injury Claim
