When you are seeking a personal injury settlement after being hurt as a result of someone else's actions, you may not know how much money you are eligible for. Here are some of the things that could affect the amount of your settlement.
Your Marriage Status
You might not know this, but it seems that older married couples are typically awarded more than young, single people. They are usually seen as more stable and therefore, more believable by some insurance companies and juries.
Your Call to Emergency Services
If you had to be taken by an ambulance to the hospital, you might be eligible for a higher settlement amount. That is because an ambulance trip implies that medical professionals were on the scene and did an assessment of your injuries that resulted in your transport, which lends credibility to your claims.
If you did not place a call to emergency services after your accident, the other driver's insurance company will investigate how quickly you saw a doctor after the accident. The theory is that if your injuries were serious, you would not wait to get medical attention.
Exaggerating Your Injuries
In an effort to make sure you get a fair settlement, you may exaggerate how much you are hurt. This can be a major mistake and might cause you to lose out on any settlement at all.
The insurance company for the other party may hire an investigator to find out if you are lifting things you shouldn't lift or doing activities you shouldn't be doing. The investigator might talk to your neighbors to find out if you're doing lawn work, for instance. They could also check out your social media profiles to see if you've posted pictures of you doing physically-demanding activities. Therefore, it is critical that you remain honest with everyone involved so that you can get the settlement you deserve.
Whether the Injury is Permanent or Temporary
In some states, you need to have a permanent and lasting injury before you can be awarded money for so-called non-economic reasons, such as mental anguish and pain and suffering. Talk to your doctor to determine what kind of injury you have and be prepared to be asked to see another doctor for a second opinion on the severity of your injury.
Now that you know some of the things that may affect how much money you get in your personal injury settlement, you can be better prepared. Be sure you work closely
20 October 2015
Hi, my name is Sally. I was living a pretty average, uneventful life until I had an accident. At that point, my life become more stressful and painful than I could have ever imagined. Sadly, my accident happened on private property, and it could have been prevented if the owner of the property had kept up with his shoveling. For months, I missed work, suffered through constant pain and become more and more depressed. Finally, a friend referred me to an accident and injury lawyer, and she showed me how to get the compensation that I deserved. I don't want to see anyone else suffer like I did, and because of that, I decided to create this blog. Here, I hope anyone who has been injured can find the information they need to get fully compensated and regain their lives. Enjoy your reading and thanks for stopping by!
