Strategies for Victims of Rear-End Car Accidents to Secure Fair Settlements

When Common Collisions See Uncommon Outcomes

If you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle crash, there’s a good chance that it was a rear-end collision. In fact, accident statistics show that these are the most common type of auto wrecks on American roads. If you’ve been harmed in such an incident, it’s important to understand the strategies for victims of rear-end car accidents to secure fair settlements.

Unfortunately, this can sometimes be a difficult process. Even though these accidents are common, certain issues can greatly complicate things. This is particularly true when serious injuries are sustained or an insurer doesn’t want to compensate an injury victim fairly. Luckily, there are various ways to overcome such complications.

All it takes is a little preparation, focus, and working with the right professionals — in addition to sticking with the following strategies.

Gather Evidence at the Scene

Your ability to secure a fair personal injury settlement will often start right at the scene of your accident. While you won’t need to present evidence in the courtroom to secure a settlement, having such evidence does greatly increase the likelihood of a fair settlement offer. This is why you should collect evidence at the scene if you’re able.

It may sound like overkill, but almost anything you can think of can be helpful. Take pictures and videos of vehicle damage, skid marks, nearby signage, road conditions, the surrounding area, and anything else that may seem relevant. You should also collect information from the other driver and any witnesses to the incident.

Of course, some people may be unable to do this due to injuries. If you fall into this category, don’t become disheartened. There are many other strategies for rear-end car accident victims to secure fair settlements.

Contact Authorities

The police do not need to be contacted after every car accident. Some states actually have rules regarding when calling authorities is required. However, you should always contact the police if serious property damage or any injuries occur. This will greatly increase your odds of being fairly compensated with an insurance settlement.

A police report will serve as official documentation of what occurred. It will typically also provide an initial assessment of fault. After completing a police report, make sure you obtain a copy of the document. However, don’t hinder your recovery by performing tasks you can have others do. If you’re injured, your attorney can obtain the report on your behalf.

Document Everything

When someone suffers a serious injury, it’s important for them to document everything. Fortunately, most people understand that this means saving their medical bills. After all, you’ll need evidence of expenses to receive compensation in your personal injury case. However, this is far from where your documentation efforts should end.

For instance, you should start tracking all expenses related to your injury. This includes medical bills, repair costs, lost wages, and even transportation expenses (e.g., rental cars, rideshare). Any monetary loss that you would not have experienced had the accident not occurred should be documented. You’re likely entitled to have these paid back.

It’s also helpful to start an “accident journal.” This should be a written record of your physical symptoms, emotional state, and any impact your injury has had on your daily life and activities. Many people don’t realize it, but strategies to secure a fair settlement after a rear-end accident focus on more than just monetary loss. Non-economic losses are often compensable.

Consider Long-Term Implications

In most cases, insurance adjusters want personal injury victims to quickly accept a settlement offer. That’s because early offers are often unfairly low. Additionally, the full scope of loss typically isn’t known this early in the process. Remember, injuries suffered in a car accident can have long-term implications that affect you for years.

An insurer may offer to pay for your property damage and any medical bills you’ve already incurred, but what about potential future expenses? What if your pain gets worse over time? What if you end up needing years of physical therapy? Unfortunately, too many people accept quick settlement offers without considering these and other factors.

This is why it’s often beneficial to allow an attorney to handle negotiations. These professionals typically have an idea of what a personal injury claim is worth.

Stay Patient and Persistent During Negotiations

Many people fail to realize that insurance settlement negotiations can take time. Sometimes, this is because insurers are stalling and hope to “run out the clock” on the statute of limitations. However, the process is typically extensive because insurers want to pay as little as possible.

This is why you must stay patient and persistent during negotiations. Accepting an early offer just to be done with the process usually means you’ll be paid less than you deserve. Figure out the value of your claim, and don’t let insurers take advantage of you.

Of course, the best way to accomplish this is typically by allowing a professional to handle the process for you.

Consult a Personal Injury Attorney

If you’re injured in a motor vehicle collision, the most important decision you make will likely be whether to hire a lawyer. While seeking legal representation is not required under the law, an experienced attorney can prove invaluable to your case. These professionals understand all the strategies for victims of rear-end car accidents to secure fair settlements.

Even more importantly, statistics show that injury victims with legal representation secure higher compensation on average. Insurers are less likely to lowball you when you have a legal advocate on your side, and if they refuse to fairly compensate you, your attorney can file litigation on your behalf. Put simply, it’s usually in your best interest to work with a lawyer.

At Skinner Law Corp, we’re here to provide dedicated legal representation for injury victims. Contact us at 310-356-0074 to schedule your confidential consultation.