Any car crash has the potential to cause life-threatening or life-changing injuries. From a crash that results in a person suffering from a brain injury to one that results in broken bones, all victims have changes that they’ll have to deal with in the near future.
If you are a victim of a crash, one thing you’ll want to look into is how to receive compensation. There are many different considerations that your attorney will need to acknowledge. For example, you could be able to pursue compensation against the driver, the driver’s insurance carrier, an employer or a third party.
Pursuing a claim: Your options
Your attorney will look into a number of different options for pursuing a claim against the person who caused your injuries. If the driver who caused the accident has insurance, then this is the most typical method for pursing compensation. On the other hand, if they do not, then you may need to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against them directly through the courts.
Another option that some people have is to pursue a claim against the other person’s employer. For example, if a truck driver hits you and is employed by someone locally, then you may be able to hold the employer responsible through vicarious liability laws.
What happens after you make a claim?
Once you make a claim, you should hear back from an insurance agent or the other party fairly soon. If your attorney is reaching out on your behalf, then they will keep you informed about the claim and what is happening with it. In the case that a settlement offer is made, your attorney will make sure that you know about it and are given good advice on whether it should or should not be accepted based on the facts of your case.
If the driver did not have insurance, or if the insurance agency isn’t settling for a fair amount, your attorney may begin preparing for trial. Your case can settle outside court up to the date of trial (and sometimes during it). Once the judge rules on a case, their ruling is binding. The other party may choose to appeal, but you will have a good idea of what to expect. Your attorney will talk to you more about the potential for a trial, but most cases do settle outside court with the right negotiating tactics and support.