| If you absolutely cannot get a lawyer but you honestly | | | | treating physician. |
| believe you have a valid personal injury claim then you | | | | Step Seven: Pictures are awesome. They are still |
| have only one choice: you have to go it alone. | | | | worth one thousand words even in this digital era. So if |
| Now, I don't recommend you attempt a bodily injury | | | | you have pictures of your badly damaged car or your |
| claim settlement on your own if you can get a lawyer. | | | | badly damaged body, round them up. |
| Based on numerous studies, you're likely to get more | | | | Step Eight: Write a careful, well written cover letter |
| money in your pocket after paying your lawyer, than if | | | | that summarizes the information you gathered in the |
| you represent yourself. | | | | preceding steps. |
| Just like any specialized area: there are pitfalls. (And | | | | Step Nine: At the end of this letter you will have to |
| you don't want to fall in a pit. After all, you're still | | | | name a number. Basic negotiating texts suggest |
| recovering from your accident injuries. Why aggravate | | | | "always ask for more than you expect to get." You |
| them?) | | | | can always come down, but once you start too low it |
| However, if your case has been rejected by countless | | | | is very hard to move back up. |
| lawyers (or, you just can't stand the thought of a | | | | Take all the materials, put your cover letter on them |
| wealthy lawyer becoming more wealthy from your | | | | and mail it to the claims adjuster. But first make a copy |
| case) then you must move forward. | | | | for yourself. |
| To prepare an personal injury settlement claim letter | | | | Now you are in the negotiating stage. Give the |
| follow this format: | | | | adjuster a week and call. Did she get the materials? |
| Step One: Make sure all your injuries are properly | | | | How long does she need to review them and make |
| identified, diagnosed by a physician qualified to make | | | | you an offer? Calendar that date. Follow up. |
| the diagnosis, and treated as recommended by your | | | | Once you get an offer you can assess it in light of the |
| primary physician or specialist. | | | | valuation research you did earlier. |
| Step Two: Assemble medical records from all your | | | | If it is too low, it is time again to consider hiring a |
| doctors, hospitals, clinics etc. | | | | lawyer. |
| Step Three: Make sure you get a copy of every single | | | | If this is an uninsured motorist claim, you have |
| medical bill. | | | | arbitration rights under your policy. However, an |
| Step Four: Obtain a copy of the traffic accident report. | | | | arbitration is much like a mini-trial and unless you have |
| Step Five: Do some research. Find out what your | | | | a penchant for representing yourself it will be less |
| case is worth. It's worth paying for this advice. Hire an | | | | stressful and likely, more profitable, to have someone |
| experienced lawyer for an hour to get his valuation. | | | | on your side. |
| Step Six: Do a thorough summation of the income you | | | | Disclaimer: The foregoing principles are based on my |
| did not receive because of the accident. Get a letter | | | | experience with Utah law and may not apply to the |
| from your human resources department stating how | | | | state in which you live. Please obtain your own |
| much you earned per hour and how many hours you | | | | qualified counsel from an experienced attorney or |
| missed. | | | | from up-to-date law books in your state of residence. |
| And be sure you have a "work release" from your | | | | |