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Compensation Ideas And Negotiations For Accident Victims

If you've been involved in an accident and it wasn't your fault, the battle for compensation may still be too difficult to manage alone. Your opponent won't give you suggestions on how to enhance your life with as much of their money as possible, so you'll need to understand your life needs before accepting any offers.

With a few considerations for settlement negotiations, you can avoid low bid traps and misleading offers while keeping the door open for more opportunities:

Assess The Deeper Costs Of Personal And Vehicle Damage

Your life is more important than your car, but it's important to know that there are financial and life consequences that may linger after the hospital and auto repair shop visits.

Depending on your vehicle, you may not be able to get enough compensation to buy a new car--or even replace the old one. Vehicle value depreciation may give you just enough money to hunt through private sales to get a potentially unreliable vehicle. That's at the most basic of legal outcomes; you need to figure out how to get a new car out of the deal.

Your compensation for a new car won't come from the car judgment itself, but other inconveniences that you could suggest. Pain and suffering is a commonly suggested, but not well understood concept for legal compensation, so leave that to an accident lawyer. Instead, argue for missed opportunities and lost wages.

Your Legal Opponent Owes For Inconvenience

You may already be entitled to lost wages due to your injuries, but your injuries will hopefully heal quickly. If you're unable to get a new car because of the accident and a lower than expected settlement offer, however, you may be able to demand lost wages from not being able to make it to work on time or efficiently.

The cost of a taxi, bus fare or other public transportation is a cost that you wouldn't have to pay if not for the accident. Suggest compensation for continued public transportation costs and weight it against the cost of a new vehicle at a reasonable price. Depending on how long your legal opponent may be responsible for your injuries and inconvenience, the car cost may be more affordable.

Your legal opponent may not even have to pay full price for the vehicle. If the opponent has a newer vehicle or access to a vehicle that is up to your standards, you could use that vehicle as a negotiating point.

For help with brainstorming accident settlement negotiations, contact an accident lawyer.


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