Producing evidence that details the exact cause and extent of the accident, as well as any injuries, goes a long way in increasing your car accident settlement. This evidence includes police reports, pictures of the accident, and any statements from witnesses.

If you were injured, be sure to obtain medical records demonstrating treatments, medications, ongoing care, and potential long-term effects. Obtain documents from your employer if you lost wages as a result of the accident.

How did the accident impact your quality of life, relationships, and possible lost business opportunities? Take a thorough analysis of your life before and after the accident to discover changes brought on by the event. Then, substantiate those changes with proof. This may come in the form of documentation demonstrating your injuries forced you to lose a business prospect. It may come from an email showing the effects on a relationship. Solid evidence is the key to increasing your settlement.

An insurance company is a business whose end goal is to make money. The smaller the settlement amount they pay out, the more money they keep in their pocket. For this reason, they often lowball initial settlement offers. At that point, you can enter into auto accident settlement negotiations or go to court.

When negotiating a fair car accident settlement, ensure that it’s enough money to cover damages, current and future medical bills, and lost wages. Most insurance companies want to stay out of court, which works in your favor, as it is a lengthy and expensive process and will likely enable you to negotiate a bigger settlement without having to go to court.

Whether you need a lawyer to receive a maximum car accident settlement depends, to a large degree, on your negotiating skills and the complexity of the case. Almost all settlements require hammering out a deal with the insurance company to maximize your compensation. While a lawyer is not required to negotiate a car accident settlement, their knowledge of local auto accident laws and experience negotiating settlements with insurance companies often mean they’re able to secure larger settlements than someone negotiating on their own behalf.

If you’re not using a lawyer for your car accident settlement, you’ll need to stick to the facts, have supporting documents, and keep your emotions under control. If they offer a settlement you’re happy with that covers all expenses, you can accept it and move forward. Just remember that once you agree on a settlement amount, you usually give up your rights to future claims.

The best strategies for negotiating with an insurance company include clearly presenting your evidence and ensuring your evidence backs up your requested settlement. Other strategies for negotiating a higher car accident settlement include:

• Never accept the first settlement offer insurance makes.
• Ask for more money initially than you think will cover your expenses, knowing the insurance company will try to negotiate that number down.
• Speak to two to three different auto accident attorneys to get a wide range of legal opinions on the value of your settlement.
• Utilize online car accident settlement calculators (link) to get a rough idea of what your case is worth.
• Look at what payouts similar auto accident cases were awarded in recent jury trials in your state.

If negotiations fail, demonstrating your intention to file a lawsuit can sometimes be enough to sway them to settle. One survey found that the average settlements for personal injury claims came to over $45,000 for those threatening a lawsuit and $23,000 for those who didn’t.