If you are “going it alone” and trying to settle your Maryland car accident claim with the insurance company, the first question is whether the insurance company’s settlement offer is fair and reasonable. Victims who are injured by the wrongdoing of another driver (or other person) are entitled to compensation for ALL potential categories of damages and losses. Thus, ensuring that there is compensation for each category of losses/damages is the first step in answering the question about whether a settlement offer is fair and reasonable.

For example, a fair and reasonable settlement offer will cover compensation for ALL medical-related costs, fees, and expenses. That includes past medical bills, ambulance charges, ER charges, costs for medications, and more. Medical-related expenses ALSO include any known or expected FUTURE medical costs.

Now, in fairness to the insurance company, their representatives will want to have evidence for everything that is being claimed. This includes copies of all of the invoices for past and current expenses. And, for future-related expenses, the documentation necessary is some sort of report or opinion from a treating physician or other who is competent to offer an opinion as to how much future medical costs will be. So, with just this one category of damages, there are several questions to ask before determining if the settlement offer is fair and reasonable. These questions include:

• Does the insurance company have copies of all relevant invoices and bills?
• Were all of the invoices used in preparing the settlement offer?
• Are all of the expected medical procedures and follow-ups finished?
• What is the status of the victim’s recovery? Is the recovery complete, or might there be more medical costs in the future?

A similar set of questions must be asked for each potential category of damages. Does the settlement offer cover your actual lost wages and earnings? What about any potential future lost wages/earnings? Does the settlement offer cover your past, current, and future pain and suffering damages?

When it comes to accepting a settlement offer, victims must make sure that they are getting the compensation to which they are entitled. Victims get only one opportunity to settle. After the offer is accepted and the paperwork signed, there is no “going back” for more money. This is one of the many reasons to hire experienced Maryland car accident attorneys. If you are looking for “Maryland auto accident lawyers near me,” call us at the Law Office of Robert Castro. Use our contact page or our phone number, which is (301) 870-1200. We are highly rated and skilled and have offices in Waldorf, Maryland. One key aspect of representing our clients is ensuring any settlement offer is both fair, reasonable, and as large as possible.

Other categories of potential damages include:

• Costs and expenses related to damage to your vehicle and other personal property in the vehicles (such as electronic devices, clothing, etc.)
• Disfigurement
• Emotional and mental injuries
• Loss of normal life
• Disability
• Loss of society

Contact Waldorf, MD, Personal Injury Attorney Robert Castro Today

This article has been provided by the Law Office of Robert Castro. For more information or questions, contact our office to speak to an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer at (301) 870-1200. We are Waldorf, MD, Personal Injury lawyers.  Our address is 11701 Central Avenue, Suite 200, Waldorf, MD 20601.