Involved In A Car Accident? Know How To Settle Your Case
Were you involved in a car accident that totaled your vehicle and the other driver is at fault? If so, you may be able to settle your own case without the help of a lawyer. Here are a few tips that can help you with your car accident case.
Get Your Supporting Evidence
It's crucial that you get supporting evidence at the time of the accident to help support your case later on. This includes some photos of the vehicles immediately after the impact, statements and contact info from witnesses that saw it happen, and a police report from an officer that came out to the scene of the accident. These things will help support your case, and can only be done right after the accident happens.
Determine The Value Of Your Vehicle
You'll next need to figure out what the value of your vehicle is, often referred to as the fair market value. This is based on the age of your car, what kind of car it is, how many miles you have driven on it, any prior damage done to your vehicle, and the condition of it before the crash. Many people use outside resources as a good indication of how much the vehicle is worth, but it also helps to find a similar vehicle for sale that has a list price.
By doing your own research, you have data that can be used to disprove what the insurance company says your vehicle is worth if the value comes in too low.
Remember Your Rental Car
When negotiating the settlement for your case, it is easy to get caught up in the value of your vehicle and how much it'll take to repair it. Don't forget that you can also recover the money needed for a rental car while your vehicle is being replaced. This is a monetary loss that can be requested through the responsible party's insurance company, even if you do not have the rental car coverage through your own insurance. If you are borrowing someone else's vehicle, you can typically negotiate the cost for how much it would be to use their vehicle.
Remember Your Personal Property
Chances are that there were things in the car that were damaged during the crash. Anything in your car is considered your personal property, and you can recover those losses as well. You can use your photographs to prove what was in the car and what was damaged to help justify reimbursement.
Reach out to a lawyer when you have a complicated case that you need help settling or taking to trial. Talk to a car accident law firm, such as Higinbotham & Higinbotham LLC, to learn more.