If you were in a car accident, got hurt, and want to obtain compensation from the at-fault driver but do not wish to hire legal help, you need to learn how to settle a car accident claim without a lawyer.
That’s right. You can settle a car accident claim for yourself without a lawyer. All you need to do is be well prepared, know how to handle the task, and know when to ask for help.
Getting in a car accident is one of the worst things that can happen to a person. Sure, legal processes take time, but they ensure everything is done according to law.
If you are considering getting your car accident settlement out of court, you can learn how to settle a personal injury claim without an attorney. However, if you are pursuing a claim in court, you need that legal help.
But to know whether you should go solo or hire a lawyer to settle a car accident claim, we bring you this easy guide. This guide will help you learn how to negotiate a settlement without a lawyer and when you should get external help.
Let us begin and see if your accident case requires legal expertise or not.
6 Easy Steps On How To Settle A Car Accident Claim Without A Lawyer
Settling a car accident claim, no matter how small, is a huge task. But the silver lining is that in the USA, most car accident cases settle negotiations. There are rare scenarios where, in an accident case, especially a minor one, a suit is filed and gets into the trial phase.
Thus, if you were involved in a minor car accident, you may be able to handle your case without a car accident lawyer. But to ensure your success you need to do in-depth research and get advice on the ideal way to proceed with your accident claims.
So, if you are determined to get your minor car accident settlement amounts all by yourself, below are the steps that you should take to win your fight against the falter.
1. Take Action Within A Reasonable Period After The Accident
The first thing you must know before you begin learning how to settle a car accident claim without insurance and a lawyer is the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations means the time limit applies to injury claims. In the USA, it is generally between two and four years.
If you do not file a claim against the person responsible for the accident within the statute of limitations, your claim will be time-barred. It means you will not be allowed to make your case.
So, do not take too long to file a lawsuit or reach a settlement. And for filing a lawsuit, you will require legal personnel, aka, a lawyer.
2. Deduce The Range Of Your Damages
The second thing you need to do when learning how to settle a car accident claim without a lawyer is to determine the extent of your damages. The range of your damages goes beyond the physical damages done to you and your property.
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You need to add up all the expenses you have incurred since your accident happened, including medical bills, income lost from missing work, and car repairs, to future expenses like being unable to work on your job for upcoming months or years.
In simpler terms, when involved in a car accident, the at-fault driver for the accident is required to compensate you for all your losses, including:
- Pain And Suffering
- Emotional Distress
- Property Damage
- Past And Future Medical Bills
- Past And Future Lost Wages
Knowing all your pain and sufferings and present, past, and future distress and miseries before you begin the process of negotiation is a must.
Thus, learn the severity of your damages and get some expert advice on how much your current and future medical bills and lost wages will add up to. If you are not clear on the damages done to you, you might end up asking or accepting too little money.
3. Identify The Parties At Fault
After you have decided on the extent of the damages that occurred due to the accident, the next thing is to identify the people or parties responsible for hurting you during that accident.
The answer to your queries, like can I settle my car accident, is a big yes. You can easily handle your minor accident case, and the second step is to identify the culprits.
This is a necessary step as you do not wish to go after the wrong people or entities and waste your time and energy. In most accident cases, you will be claiming against the other driver who was at fault and their insurance provider.
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However, there may be other people to blame as well. For example, if you are hurt by a driver on duty, you can have a claim against their employer and more.
Thus, knowing against whom you should prepare your case will help you well to settle a car accident claim without a lawyer.
4. Gather Your Documents & Evidence
To make a strong case against the party at fault, you need to show that you are entitled to compensation. This is the only way you can maximize your chance of receiving a fair settlement offer.
And for this, you need solid evidence that the other driver was at fault. You need proof like an eyewitness statement or a police report. In addition, you will also want proof of the severity of your damages or losses like medical records, bills, and a record showing how your pain has impacted your life.
In simpler words, you will need:
- The time, date, and location of the car accident
- The at-fault driver’s name and insurance company
- The other driver’s vehicle’s license plate number, VIN, make, and model
- The contact information of any witnesses, as well as their testimonies
- The police report
- Your medical treatment and expenses
- A copy of your lost wages/income
The more solid evidence you have with you, the more likely the other party’s insurer will accept their fault and take on your estimate of the severity of the damages you have endured.
And thus offering you the compensation acceptable to you. The average settlement for non-injury car accidents is generally between $10,000 to $15,000. However, it varies depending on the severity of the case.
5. Send A Demand Letter
The next thing you need to do instead of asking if should i get a lawyer for a car accident that wasn’t my fault is to write a demand letter.
A demand letter is something that you will write to the insurer of the at-fault driver of the accident.
Going for a demand letter is a good move only when you have a strong case, you have all the necessary evidence, and you know how substantial your losses are.
In your demand letter, you should include the following:
- Facts Of The Case
- Expenses You Have Incurred Due To The Accident
- Your Path To Recovery
- A Request For A Reasonable Compensation Amount
Please understand that you can not learn how to settle a car accident claim without a lawyer without a demand letter. A demand letter is your first interaction with the entities involved in the accident. Sending it allows you to open negotiations on your terms.
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Whereas if you avoid it, the insurer gets the hold of the entire process and you will have to start from the amount the insurer offers.
6. Review The Settlement Offer Carefully
As soon as the insurer of the at-fault driver accepts their fault for the accident, they will make a settlement offer. The settlement offer generally states that the company is agreeing to pay you a set amount of money for you to give up any future claims.
It might sound tempting but do not give in easily. You should review this settlement offer carefully to decide if the offered compensation is enough to cover all your losses.
Giving up future claims is a huge step. You should take it only if you are certain about the extent of your damages and your present and future losses. You simply need to ensure you will not end up regretting by taking this settlement.
If, at this step, you are wondering if can I settle without my lawyer, then let us be clear, yes, you can. You can counter the settlement offer you receive from the insurer of the other driver, or you can entirely decline it if it doesn’t seem fair.
But remember, if you can not settle, you will have to go to court to get the compensation you desire. The process of filing a lawsuit and proceeding in court is complex and will require you to hire a car accident lawyer.
Conclusion
Every car owner should know how to settle a car accident claim without a lawyer, as it can come in handy in most unexpected times.
However, you should not forget the ease and benefits you get by hiring a lawyer, like maximizing your chances of settlement, getting you a large amount of compensation, and saving you all the hassle.
While going all in by yourself during minor accidents is okay. But during bigger accidents and bigger stakes at risk, apart from knowing how to settle a personal injury claim without an attorney, learn when to hire one.
