After a Louisiana car accident, there are certain things that a victim must do in order to maximize the value of their settlement with the insurance company. They will not simply receive a check for the full value of their claim if they do not push the issue since the insurance company does not like to write checks.
Many do not realize the motives of the insurer during the process and rush to take the first amount that they are offered. More often than not, this is a mistake because the insurance company seldom makes their best offer first. Since they view the process as a negotiation, claimants should look at it in the same way. Just as any negotiator should do their homework before the actual negotiation, so should someone who is filing a claim.
One should start by knowing with near-certainty the value of their car. In addition, they should also understand the elements of their claim beyond property damage and know what they are worth. If the insurance company does not come close to that number, do not hesitate to ask for more money through a demand letter. Make sure to leave some room with the demand letter because the insurance company will still try to negotiate to reach a deal.
Negotiating with the insurance company is difficult, and it is not something that everyone is capable of doing. In addition, one filing a claim may be injured and dealing with other things. Hiring a personal injury attorney could make the process of dealing with the insurance company much easier. The lawyer might assist the client by handling the negotiation and determining whether a lawsuit is necessary to recover the amount owed.