What Is The Value Of My Car Accident case?

In evaluating the value of a claim, the attorney looks at many factors and considers many elements and questions surrounding the accident. Included in those factors is the type of injuries, such as whether fractures or any other physical signs of injury exist versus complaints with no visible signs of injury.

  • Is there a permanent injury?
  • Who is the client and what kind of witness will the client make?
  • Where did the accident happen is important since some counties are known to give more generous verdicts than others.
  • Whether there was significant damage to the vehicles involved since judges and juries are more likely to believe injuries in serious looking accidents than they are in minor property damage cases.
  • Who is the attorney?
  • What judge do you have?
  • How long did the treatment last, which doctors performed the treatment, and were there any objective findings in the x-rays or MRI’s that would point to proof of injuries?
  • Is there is any scarring and/or bruising?
  • What is the age and sex of the client?
  • Whether the client has had any other accidents, as the courts look very closely at cases where a client has filed more than one claim and tend to give less credence to people who have filed many claims.
  • Is the fault clear or disputed?

What is the value of my car accident case?

Lawyers who have been practicing for a long period of time and have tried many cases know how to weigh each one of these factors. As each case is different and multi-faceted, there is no way a lawyer can realistically appraise your case on the first day of your accident. The lawyer’s opinion of the value of the case can change drastically as more information accrues over time. Any lawyer who promises that he knows the value of your case based on your initial interview will most likely fail to deliver on the promise he/she has made.

What is the value of my car accident case?

In Maryland, an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer and an experienced insurance adjuster have to look at each one of these factors because these are the factors that a judge or jury typically look at when trying to decide the value of your case. When presenting your case, it is very important that a jury is going to like the injured party. Judges or juries compensate well people they like and compensate less well people they do not like. Insurance companies know this and will offer less to injured parties who have been difficult or unlikeable. Tip 1 therefore is to be on your best behavior at all times as insurance companies and insurance lawyers are always looking for clues as to how you will come off in front of the trier of fact.

What is the value of my car accident case?

Amount of damage to the car is extremely important in a Maryland car accident claim. When a judge or jury is showed pictures of the car as a result of the accident, the judge or jury is more likely to believe your complaints and extent of treatment if the car has extensive damage rather than a scratch. Nothing is harder for a Baltimore Car accident attorney to explain than an injured party who has $200.00 worth of damage to his car and a scratch you can barely see, yet had one year of physical therapy and missed 6 months of work. On the other hand a jury will usually accept long periods of treatment and extensive lost time if the car you were in is totaled.

What is the value of my car accident case?

Insurance companies keep track of attorneys’ records in past cases they have handled. If your  attorney  has lost the last 3 trials with the same insurance company or when the cases were tried damages awarded were less than the insurance company offer, than the insurance company will keep this in mind in future negotiations with your lawyer. If the insurance company knows you are a TV lawyer with a lot of cases who takes the first offer made then they will continue to make you low offers. On the other hand if your lawyer has rejected offers in the past and then tried the cases and obtained verdicts at three times the offer, the insurance company is more likely to offer your lawyer more money up front. No adjustor wants to go back to his supervisor after an unfavorable verdict.

What is the value of my car accident case?

Every county in Maryland has judges and juries that come from different back rounds. Juries in urban areas such as Baltimore City or Prince Georges County tend to award more money than juries in rural counties such as Carroll  or Harford county. An experienced Baltimore Car Accident Lawyer knows the tendencies of the juries in each county as he has probably tried cases in each county. Judges also vary from county to county, but judges also vary in the same counties. An experience Baltimore car accident attorney will have tried cases in front of each judge and will have a feel for each judge.

What is the value of my car accident case?

Prior accident history is always important in a car accident claim. Judges and juries have heard all the stories about people making false claims and are therefore very suspicious when they begin to hear an auto accident claim for injuries. There is almost like a secret presumption that your claim is bogus and your burden is to overcome that perception. If the judge or jury views you as a professional claims presenter, then they are less likely to believe your story. The more claims you file the more the jury will get the impression that all you do is fill claims for a living. Most people sitting on  a jury have either never filed a claim or have only filed one.

Bottom line is, valuing a car accident claim is complicated and an injured party should seek the services of an experience car accident attorney.

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