When you have a car accident claim in Illinois, it is critical to make sure you receive the financial compensation you deserve. Serious injuries can have a variety of long-term effects, and recovering full compensation helps ensure that your injuries’ effects will be no greater than necessary.
But, recovering full compensation is not easy. The insurance companies use several tactics to try to avoid paying what they owe; and, if you make mistakes, you could end up with just a fraction of the compensation you are rightfully owed. As a result, you need to be careful, and you need to make sure you have a clear understanding of the factors that can reduce the damages you are able to recover.
What are some of the factors that may reduce your damages in a car accident claim? Here are seven examples:
In Illinois, being partially at fault in an accident can limit the amount you are entitled to recover—and in some cases it can prevent you from recovering any compensation at all. As a result, it is in the insurance company’s best interests to blame you for what happened. If the insurance company says you were partially at fault, you should not assume that this is the case. Instead, you should hire a lawyer to examine the facts with your best interests in mind.
If you wait to seek treatment for your injuries after an accident, this can make it more difficult to prove that your injuries are accident-related. It can also give the insurance company an excuse to say that at least some of your medical bills shouldn’t be covered under your personal injury claim. Any time you get injured in an accident, it is important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Proving the costs of a vehicle collision or other accident requires documentation. If you don’t have documentation of your accident-related expenses, this could also prevent you from recovering the full compensation you deserve. As a result, when paying for medical care, medical supplies, and other necessities, it is important to keep your receipts. You should also keep any scans, test results, or other documentation you receive from your medical provider.
In addition to keeping documentation of your out-of-pocket costs, you also need to take steps to document your pain and suffering. If you have a personal injury claim in Illinois, you are entitled to damages for these “non-financial” losses as well. But, you need to be able to prove them, and this means that you should take the time to take notes documenting the daily effects of your injuries. If you don’t, this could reduce the amount you are able to recover.
Along with seeking treatment promptly, it is also important to follow your doctor’s advice. If you skip appointments or work when you should be resting, these mistakes could also limit the amount of financial compensation you are able to recover.
When you have a personal injury claim, it is absolutely essential that you not settle too soon. If you settle your claim before you know how much you are entitled to recover, you will almost certainly be settling for far less than you deserve. Once you know how much you deserve for your long-term medical needs, loss of income, pain and suffering, and other losses, then you can make an informed decision about settlement.
To make sure you don’t settle for too little, you need to have an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side. An experienced car accident lawyer will be able to prove who was at fault in the accident, calculate just compensation for your losses, and deal with the insurance company for you. This will allow you to make smart decisions; and, when your claim is over, you can feel confident knowing that you did everything you could to maximize your financial recovery.
If you have been injured in an accident in Illinois, we encourage you to contact us for a FREE, no-obligation consultation about your personal injury claim.
Contact Coplan + Crane today online or at (708) 358-8080 for a FREE case evaluation. We serve clients throughout Illinois, including Chicago, Oak Park, Rockford, and other areas.
