How To Increase Injury Settlement Value in Florida
Navigating the aftermath of a personal injury can be overwhelming. You are dealing with physical pain, emotional distress, and the daunting prospect of financial instability due to medical bills and lost wages. While no amount of money can truly compensate for your suffering, securing a fair settlement is crucial for your recovery and future well-being.
The problem is that insurance companies often try to settle claims for as little as possible. You need a strategic approach to maximize the value of your injury settlement. Below, our Florida personal injury attorneys at Chubb Law provide key steps on how to increase your personal injury settlement.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
One of the most critical steps in maximizing your injury settlement is seeking prompt medical treatment. Not only is this essential for your health, but it also creates a strong medical record linking your injuries to the accident. Delaying treatment can give the insurance company grounds to argue that your injuries are not severe or were caused by something other than the accident.
Make sure to follow all prescribed treatments and attend all follow-up appointments. Consistent medical care demonstrates the seriousness of your injuries and helps justify a higher settlement demand.
Gather Strong Evidence
The more evidence you have, the stronger your case will be. Collect as much documentation as possible, including:
- Photos and Videos: Take pictures of your injuries, property damage, and the accident scene.
- Police and Incident Reports: If law enforcement or other authorities responded to the accident, obtain a copy of the accident report, as it provides an official record of what happened.
- Medical Records: Keep all medical bills, prescriptions, and reports from doctors, therapists, and specialists.
- Witness Statements: Statements from people who saw the accident can strengthen your claim.
- Work Records: Obtain records of lost wages from your employer if you missed work.
- Keep a Journal: Record details about your pain levels, limitations, and emotional distress, as they can illustrate the injury’s impact on your daily life.
This evidence will help establish the extent of your injuries and the other party’s liability, which can lead to a higher settlement. Understanding how to get settlement from a car accident hinges on proving the full scope of the harm done.
Be Cautious When Speaking to Insurance Adjusters
Insurance adjusters may seem friendly and sympathetic, but their primary goal is to minimize payouts. Be careful when speaking with them and avoid:
- Admitting fault, even partially
- Speculating about how the accident happened
- Saying you feel “fine” or “better,” as they may use this against you
- Providing a recorded statement without consulting an attorney
Instead, let our team at Chubb Law handle communications with the insurance company to ensure that you do not inadvertently say something that could devalue your claim.
CONSIDER FUTURE MEDICAL EXPENSES
Do not only consider your current medical bills when calculating your damages. Many injuries require long-term treatment, rehabilitation, or future surgeries. Your settlement should account for future doctor visits, physical therapy, prescription medications, assistive devices, and home modifications if you have a permanent disability. A medical expert can help project future medical costs, which can significantly increase the value of your claim.
Highlight Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering damages compensate for physical pain, emotional distress, and an injury’s overall impact. However, Florida’s no-fault insurance system requires you to first seek compensation through Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which covers medical bills and lost wages but not pain and suffering. Pain and suffering are non-economic damages that can add significant value to your settlement.
To pursue pain and suffering damages from the at-fault party in an auto accident, your injuries must meet Florida’s serious injury threshold, meaning they result in permanent injury or significant loss of bodily function, permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death. To document these damages, consider keeping a pain journal where you record your daily struggles, mobility limitations, emotional distress, and how your injuries affect your daily activities.
Establish Liability Clearly
Florida follows a comparative negligence system, meaning the court can reduce your compensation if it finds you partially at fault for the accident. The stronger your case for proving the other party’s full liability, the higher your settlement potential. Our attorneys can help by obtaining surveillance footage, working with accident reconstruction experts, gathering witness testimony, and analyzing medical reports to prove injury causation. You can maximize your potential settlement by building a solid case that establishes the other party’s full fault.
Avoid Accepting the First Settlement Offer
Insurance companies often make quick, low settlement offers, hoping you will accept out of financial pressure. These offers usually do not account for future medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering. Before agreeing to any settlement, consult with our experienced layers to ensure the offer is fair.
At Chubb Law, if an insurance offer is on the table when you hire us, we guarantee we will increase the offer or waive our fee. This commitment ensures that you do not settle for less than you deserve, and our focus is always on securing the maximum compensation for your injuries.
Strengthen Your Claim with Expert Witnesses
Expert witnesses can provide valuable insight into your case, helping to increase your settlement value. Some examples include:
- Medical Experts: Explain the severity of your injuries and necessary treatments
- Economists: Assess long-term financial losses due to lost earning capacity
- Accident Reconstructionists: Recreate the accident to prove fault
These professionals provide credible testimony that strengthens your claim and helps justify a higher settlement demand.
Account for Lost Earnings and Future Income
You should be compensated for current lost wages and any future loss of earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from working. A financial expert can calculate your projected income had you not been injured. We may argue for long-term financial support for severe injuries that lead to permanent disability, which can significantly increase your settlement value.
HIRE AN EXPERIENCED FLORIDA PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER
Retaining a skilled personal injury lawyer is one of the most effective ways to maximize your settlement. We can:
- Handle negotiations with the insurance company
- Gather and present compelling evidence
- Calculate the true value of your damages
- File a lawsuit if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement
Insurance companies are more likely to take your claim seriously when you have legal representation. In many cases, our attorney can secure a much higher settlement than what the insurance company initially offers.
CONTACT CHUBB LAW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR COMPENSATION
If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, do not settle for less than you deserve. Contact our experienced Florida personal injury lawyers at Chubb Law today to discuss your case and maximize your settlement. We know how to get more money from a car accident settlement and will fight for the compensation you are entitled to.
Personal injury FAQ
What are some Common Car Accident Injuries?
Remember, we have car insurance for a reason. Insurance is there for when an accident occurs. If you were in a car accident and it wasn’t your fault, we can help you make an insurance claim. If you’re hurt in a car accident, you will likely incur medical expenses, medical bills, loss of income, property damage to your car and pain and suffering. We can help you receive all that you are entitled to.
- Fractured or broken bones
- Herniated discs
- Spinal injuries
- Whiplash
- Brain Injury
- Closed head injuries
- Headaches
- Paralysis
How is Chubb Law different?
We could list all the awards we’ve received or tell you how much better our results are than other law firms– but that’s not what makes us different. We are different because we truly care about our clients. Because we care, you won’t feel like you’re one of 10,000. You will feel heard and prioritized. You will feel confident in your legal team. You will feel like you’re in the right place.
How much does it cost to start a case? I heard it’s free? How do you make money?
It doesn’t cost anything to start your case and you will never pay us anything out of your own pocket. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay us only if we win your case. Our fee comes in the form of a percentage of the settlement or verdict amount we obtain.
Do I really need an attorney or should I just work things out with the insurance?
We tell people all of the time, “if insurance companies would just treat people right there would be no need for what we do.” Unfortunately, most of the time insurance companies don’t treat people right. The only way to ensure you are protecting your rights is to consult with an attorney.
Should I take an insurance offer?
No. Not without consulting an attorney. We make all clients an “Increased Offer Guarantee.” If there is an offer on the table from the insurance company at the time of hiring us, we guarantee we will increase it, or we will waive our fee.
I already have an attorney, can I change attorneys?
Yes. In the state of Florida, you can change attorneys mid-case. In fact, you can fire your current lawyer for practically any reason. The Florida Supreme Court has set out “10 Basic Rights” that every client is entitled to from their lawyer. Read more about those here.
Mitch’s 8 Promises
1
Full-story, free consultation.
Our initial conversation does not have a time limit. We want to connect and hear your full story.
2
110%
We are selective in the cases we take so we can give 110% to those we do.
3
$0 out-of-pocket fees.
You will never pay us anything out of your own pocket. There are never upfront costs on your case. We only get paid if we win your case.
4
Unlimited.
Our clients are guaranteed unlimited communication with their legal team.
5
Proactive communication.
We consistently communicate with you to keep you updated on your case.
6
You call the shots.
You call the shots, we lead the way. We never make decisions against your desires.
7
Increased offer guarantee.
If there is an offer on the table from the insurance company at the time of hiring us, we guarantee we will increase it, or we will waive our fee.
8
The “why should I hire an attorney guarantee.”
When you hire us, not only will we handle everything, but the result we get will leave you with more in your pocket— even after attorney’s fees.
Contact Us Today for a Free Case Evaluation
Do not wait to seek legal help if you or a loved one has been injured in an accident. Contact our Seminole County personal injury law firm today to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation. During your consultation, we will review the details of your case, explain your rights and legal options, and provide you with honest and straightforward advice about how to proceed.
Remember, you do not have to face this difficult time alone. Let Mitch and Christopher fight for you so you can focus on your recovery and move forward with your life.
