In Mississippi, those who are injured in accidents through no fault of their own are often eligible to recover damages compensating them for related losses.
In most cases, plaintiffs should strongly consider retaining an experienced car accident attorney who can help guide them through the legal system.
It is possible, however, to negotiate a personal injury settlement without a lawyer, although those who choose to do so should make sure that they’re prepared.
To this end, we have included a few tips to help you learn more about how to get money from a car accident without a lawyer.
Can I Handle My Car Accident Claim on My Own?
Although it is possible to negotiate a car accident settlement on one’s own, not all car accident victims should choose this route. Generally, plaintiffs should only consider handling their own claims when:
- Their injuries are relatively minor; and
- Someone else is clearly at fault for causing the crash.
There are also a few other factors that injured car accident victims should consider before deciding to represent themselves, including: the strength of the evidence proving liability, whether the at-fault party has insurance coverage, and whether the injured party contributed in any way to the accident.
Initial Steps
So, if you’re still wondering how to get money from a car accident without a lawyer we have listed out your initial steps. Injured parties who believe that they can handle their claims on their own may want to start the settlement process by:
- Obtaining medical treatment;
- Taking pictures of the scene of the accident and any resulting injuries;
- Obtaining a copy of the police report;
- Collecting copies of all related medical records and bills; and
- Estimating their damages.
Estimating the damages involved in a case is especially important to the outcome of settlement negotiations and should be completed before sending a demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurer. An accurate estimation will require the calculation of:
- The cost of repairing or replacing the injured party’s vehicle after the crash;
- The earnings the injured party lost while recuperating from his or her injuries;
- The cost of the victim’s medical treatment; and
- The pain and suffering that the injured party endured as a result of the accident.
Once an injured party has reached a conclusion regarding his or her total accident-related losses, that individual can take the step of sending a demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurer.
Beginning Negotiations
The demand letter is usually the jumping off point for car accident settlement negotiations and so must only be sent after an injured party can explain:
- Why the insurer or defendant is liable for his or her injuries;
- The nature and extent of his or her injuries and resulting medical treatment; and
- The financial losses that he or she suffered as a result of the accident.
Once the insurer receives this letter, it will usually either accept the offer or issue a counter-offer, which the injured party can either accept or deny. In the latter case, the plaintiff should speak with an attorney as soon as possible about filing a claim in court.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Dedicated Car Accident Lawyer
To set up a free case evaluation with one of the experienced car accident attorneys at the Harris Law Firm, PLLC, please call (877) 714-4171 or send us an online message today.
RATE THIS POST
Loading...