How Our Skilled Nebraska Car Accident Settlement Lawyers Help You Pursue a Fair Settlement
After a car accident, the path to recovery can be both physically and financially draining. Securing a good injury settlement is essential to ease the burden of medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost income. Yet, the path to receiving a proper compensation deal isn’t always straightforward. From dealing with reluctant insurance adjusters to understanding your legal rights, preparation and strategy are critical.
At Beck & Beck, our Nebraska car accident lawyers understand your situation. We've helped countless accident victims evaluate settlement offers to ensure they receive total and fair compensation for their injuries. Let's examine what factors determine a fair car accident settlement.
Understanding Available Damages After a Crash
You may be entitled to several different types of compensation, also known as damages, when you’re hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault. Your settlement must address every impact of your injuries, from immediate medical needs to long-term limitations in your daily activities.
Our team wants to ensure that you have a clear picture of what can be included in your claim, so here’s a general breakdown:
- Economic. These include all out-of-pocket expenses such as medical bills, vehicle repair or replacement, lost wages, and more. Detailed documentation and receipts help prove these damages.
- Non-economic. It’s also important to address pain and suffering, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life. While harder to quantify, these losses often represent significant compensation.
- Future. Complicated medical conditions frequently require ongoing medical care, so our accident attorneys also structure your claim to account for future lost earnings and long-term rehabilitation needs that you'll face after settlement.
- Comparative fault. In Nebraska, you can recover damages even if you are partially at fault for the crash. Eligible compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
Don't let the insurance company minimize any category of damages you're legally entitled to receive. If the at-fault driver was uninsured, there are also steps to take to receive compensation. Refer to the Nebraska state statute to determine the severity of your accident and what action may be taken.
How to Evaluate if Your Car Accident Settlement Is Fair
You've received a settlement offer, but is it enough? While every case is different, there are several questions to answer before accepting an offer.
Does the settlement cover all your current medical bills and lost wages?
If it barely covers these basic expenses, it's likely inadequate. Remember, these immediate costs are just the starting point for calculating fair compensation.
Have your doctors indicated you'll need ongoing treatment or might face complications?
If you're still receiving medical care or have yet to reach maximum medical improvement, it's probably too early to settle. Many accident victims make the costly mistake of accepting early offers before understanding their long-term prognosis.
Has your daily life changed because of the accident?
A fair settlement should compensate you for quality-of-life changes that may not have obvious dollar values attached. This includes developing anxiety while driving, inability to participate in hobbies, and difficulty picking up your children.
Can someone help me answer these questions?
Have one of our Nebraska car accident lawyers review the offer. John and Paul Beck focus exclusively on auto accident law, so we’ll compare your offer to similar cases, identify overlooked damages, and advise you on whether the settlement adequately compensates you for all your losses.
Red Flags in Settlement Offers
Some insurance companies are solely focused on minimizing payouts. So, you might be in a vulnerable position while you battle with injuries, missing work, and watching expenses pile up. That's why it's crucial to recognize the warning signs that might indicate a settlement isn’t what it should be.
- Quick early offers. When insurers rush to make settlement offers within days or weeks of your accident, proceed with caution. Mounting bills makes quick cash tempting, but accepting too soon could leave you financially compromised.
- High-pressure tactics. Watch out for insurance adjusters who push you to accept quickly or impose arbitrary deadlines. These pressure tactics often indicate they're trying to settle before you discover the full extent of your injuries.
- Recorded statement requests. Be cautious if the adjuster insists on recording your statement or demands extensive documentation about your medical history. They may be looking for ways to blame your injuries on preexisting conditions or use your own words against you during settlement negotiations.
- Complete release requirements. Any settlement requiring you to sign a full release of claims deserves a second look. Once you sign, you cannot seek additional compensation even if your injuries worsen or new accident-related problems develop.
We also advise you not to discuss your injuries with the at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster before you have had the chance to speak to and hire an attorney.
At Beck & Beck, we're passionate advocates for our clients. Again, auto accident law is all we do, so our experience helps identify unfair settlement offers quickly. We handle everything from start to finish so you can focus on getting better.