No, it should not matter if there was little damage to your car after the accident. Basing your insurance settlement claim on the amount of damage your car sustained is an insurance company tactic to lower your settlement offer. Minimal damage to your car does not equate to minimal physical injuries and minimal impact on your life.
Instead of focusing on how much damage was done to your car, your Maryland car accident lawyer will focus on your injuries and the medical care you require. They can fight back against low settlement offers and pursue the maximum compensation possible in your case.
A Tactic to Lower the Value of Your Car Accident Claim
Insurance companies often use property damage—or the lack of it—to argue that your bodily injuries are minor or even nonexistent. This tactic is designed to minimize the value of your claim. They might suggest that a vehicle with little to no visible damage couldn’t possibly result in serious injuries. However, this assumption is misleading and unsupported by medical evidence.
The reality is that even low-speed collisions can cause significant harm. Whiplash, soft tissue injuries, and concussions are just a few examples of conditions that often occur without major vehicle damage. These injuries can disrupt your life and require ongoing medical treatment, regardless of the car’s condition after the crash.
By focusing on property damage, insurers aim to divert attention from the real issue—your injuries and their impact on your life. It’s important to remember that the value of a personal injury claim should reflect the severity of your injuries, medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Don’t let an insurance company diminish the value of your claim based on superficial arguments. You can fight back against low settlement offers.
Contact Us Today And Take The First Step Towards Justice In Your Case! Call (410)777-8960
The Focus Should Be Getting You Medical Care for Your Injuries
After a car accident, your primary concern should be your health. Insurance companies may attempt to steer the conversation toward property damage, but the true focus of any claim should be the medical care you need to recover from your injuries. Even if your vehicle shows little damage, you may require immediate and ongoing treatment for your injuries.
Seeking medical attention as soon as possible is critical. Delaying care can not only worsen your injuries but also give the insurance company an opportunity to question the legitimacy of your claim. Documenting your injuries through medical records, treatment plans, and physician notes strengthens your case and helps ensure you receive fair compensation.
Your car accident attorney can get you the help you need and develop your case for compensation. By centering your claim on your medical needs, they can put the focus where it belongs: on your health and recovery.
Your Settlement Should Reflect All Your Damages
When filing a personal injury claim after a car accident, it’s important to understand the types of damages you can pursue. While damage to your car may be a type of loss you can claim, it should never overshadow the actual harm you suffered. The settlement value should reflect the impact of the accident on your health, finances, and overall well-being.
Below are the key categories of damages that can be included in your claim:
- Medical Expenses: Cost of emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, and medications related to your injuries
- Rehabilitation Costs: Specialized treatments, like occupational therapy, speech therapy, or vocational rehabilitation, to help you return to normal life
- Future Medical Bills: Anticipated costs of ongoing or long-term medical care
- Pain and Suffering: The physical pain and the overall disruption to your quality of life
- Emotional Distress: Compensation for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other psychological impacts stemming from the accident
- Loss of Consortium: Compensation your spouse may pursue for the impact the accident has had on your relationship
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Damages for the inability to participate in hobbies, activities, or other aspects of life that brought joy before the accident
- Scarring and Disfigurement: Compensation for permanent changes in your appearance or bodily function
- Lost Wages: Compensation for income lost due to your inability to work while recovering from the accident
- Loss of Earning Capacity: For long-term or permanent injuries that affect your ability to earn a living in the future
- Out-of-Pocket Costs: Reimbursement for expenses like transportation to medical appointments, home modifications, or assistive devices
- Household Services: Reimbursement for costs incurred due to your inability to perform household tasks, such as hiring help for cleaning, childcare, or other duties
- Property Damage: Includes the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle but should not determine the overall value of your claim
Personal injury lawyers understand the full range of possible damages a victim may suffer, regardless of how much damage has been done to their vehicle. We will get you in with some of the best healthcare professionals in the area so that your injuries are treated properly. Our personal injury attorneys also provide clients with a special text number to reach them at any time. We will be with you throughout the claims process.
Click to contact our personal injury attorneys today
You Must Get Started Before the Deadline on Your Lawsuit Expires
Another common tactic used by insurance companies is allowing the statute of limitations to run out on your car accident case. Per Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code § 5-101, the statute of limitations for filing a car accident lawsuit is three years from the date of the accident.
Missing this deadline can result in losing your right to seek compensation through the courts, and the insurance companies know this. Without the right to sue, you will lose any negotiating leverage with the insurance companies and may be forced to accept any settlement they offer.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Call Adam Smallow Injury Lawyers About the Value of Your Car Accident Claim
Adam fights for car accident victims and their families. Our law firm knows the hardships you are facing, and now is not the time to deal with an insurance adjuster offering lowball settlements based on property damage instead of your actual medical needs.
We provide free case consultations, and our personal injury lawyers work on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we win. Call today to get started.
Call or text (410)777-8960 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
