4 Tips for Negotiating the Best General Settlement after an Auto Accident

Negotiating a general settlement after an auto accident in which both parties were equally to blame, or in which blame could not be attributed, is a complex thing which can take a lot of time and effort. Before you come to a general settlement agreement, you will have to negotiate, both with the other side, and with your own insurance company. Most of these negotiations will take place through a company solicitor, so you will only face the direct questions. If you are trying to negotiate this kind of settlement, then you will have to be prepared for the kinds of things that you will be asked.

• Be Prepared - This is perhaps the most important thing that you will have to do. Knowing what you want before you begin negotiations is vital to getting the best out of a general settlement. You should also collect any documentation that has resulted from the accident, such as medical bills, time off work, or car repairs. Keep these to hand, but send your insurers a copy so that you can both refer to them.
• Gather Your Policy Documents - As well as information relating to the accident itself, you will also need some kind of evidence of your insurance policy. Before you make contact with the solicitor, read your insurance and make sure that you know exactly what you are covered for. This may involve accidents in which you were a party, but take care that you have not ruled yourself out by your actions which ended in the accident.
• Write a Letter - A good way of communicating your requirements to the company is through a letter. You can enclose the documents to which you are referring in the same envelope. Make sure that you set out clearly your reasons for claiming, and then include, in the final paragraph of the sentence, a definite statement of the amount you wish to claim.
• Calculate Your Claim - Insurance is there to provide for us in case we become sick or suffer injury. This insurance is there to provide for all of our needs during this time, unless your policy statement says otherwise. You will therefore need to claim not only your medical bills and car repair, but also any bills which are due on the house, and rent or mortgage. Failing to include any of these could mean that you fall behind on payments, which is not what you need if you are recovering from an injury.

Negotiating a Claim

When you begin to negotiate a claim, you should start out with a clear amount which you definitely need in order to cover all of your expenses. You cannot allow your company to fall too far short of this payment. You will be negotiating for a suitable payment while you are not working, so consider what you will do if you fall short.