Injured client with arm sling reviewing and signing documents with lawyer

7 Ways an Attorney Helps Increase Your Personal Injury Settlement

Have you been hurt in an accident in Mississippi? If so, you’re probably interested in getting compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. Here are seven critical ways that an experienced Mississippi personal injury attorney can help you maximize the value of your insurance settlement.

1. An Attorney Can Gather Strong Evidence

Your lawyer will establish a solid foundation for your case by collecting critical evidence. They’ll gather accident reports, medical records, witness statements, photographs of the scene, and more to show what happened and who’s to blame. The stronger the evidence, the harder it is for the insurance company to dispute your claim.

2. An Attorney Can Work with Expert Witnesses

Lawyers often work with medical professionals, accident reconstruction specialists, and financial experts to bolster injury claims. The analysis these experts provide can help prove who’s liable for your injuries, explain the accident’s long-term effects, and calculate your future expenses. All these factors can increase your potential compensation.

3. An Attorney Can Accurately Calculate Your Economic Losses

Your attorney will document your immediate medical bills and lost wages, as well as your future costs. These include ongoing medical expenses, reduced future earnings due to your injuries, and your pain and suffering. The goal is to provide you with the money you need for your ongoing care and to compensate you for the long-term effects of your injuries.

4. An Attorney Won’t Forget Your Non-Economic Losses

Injury cases are not just about your medical bills and lost income. Pain, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life are significant factors in your recovery and settlement amount. Your lawyer can use medical records, expert testimony, and personal statements to demonstrate how the injury has affected your daily life. Highlighting these intangible losses can significantly raise your claim’s value.

5. An Attorney Can Negotiate Aggressively With Insurers

Insurance companies train their representatives to minimize payouts. A lawyer can handle all communication with the adjusters to protect your interests. By building a strong, well-documented case and refusing to accept lowball offers, your attorney is better positioned to negotiate for maximum compensation.

6. An Attorney Can Prepare Your Case for Trial

Most Mississippi injury cases end without a trial, but a good attorney approaches each claim as if it will go before a jury. When the other side knows you’ve got the evidence and strategy to win at trial, they are more likely to offer a fair settlement to avoid the risk and cost of litigation.

7. An Attorney Can Keep You From Making Common Mistakes

Personal injury claims are a complex business. There are demand letters to send, casework to file, and critical deadlines to meet. At the same time, the defense team is made up of professionals who will use every trick at their disposal to get out of paying you what they really owe you. Don’t run the risk of making a critical error. Instead, work with an experienced attorney who can protect you from the common mistakes that could decrease the value of your case.

What You Can Do to Maximize Your Personal Injury Settlement

While your attorney should do most of the work for you, there are certain steps you can take to protect yourself in your case’s early stages. Here’s what to do:

  • Follow your doctor’s treatment plan precisely.
  • Don’t discuss the accident, your injuries, or your legal case on social media.
  • Keep a daily journal noting your pain levels, how your injuries limit your activities, and your medical treatments.
  • Don’t speak to any insurance adjusters before talking to a lawyer.
  • Save your medical records, proof of lost income, and other documents regarding the accident’s financial costs.

Our Northern Mississippi Injury Lawyers Are Ready to Fight for You

Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman has provided skilled representation in North Mississippi for nearly 100 years. Our attorneys have extensive courtroom experience, and we’re not afraid to take your case to trial to make sure you recover maximum compensation. We also know you’re under a lot of financial pressure, which is why we don’t charge any attorney fees unless you win your case. Call now or complete our contact form for a free case evaluation with a Mississippi personal injury attorney.

About the Author
Jefferson D. Gilder is a Partner at Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman and was admitted to the Mississippi and Tennessee Bars in 1990. Mr. Gilder is admitted to practice in all courts in Mississippi and Tennessee including Federal Court, the Fifth and Sixth Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Gilder's areas of practice include personal injury, criminal, medical malpractice, civil rights, and product liability. Mr. Gilder spent his first ten years as an attorney practicing with his father, Robert G. Gilder, at Gilder Law Firm in Southaven, Mississippi before forming Gilder, Howell & Assoc., P.A. with Jamie W. Howell, Jr. in June of 2000. This firm although as another legal entity has now combined their resources and experience with Chatham – Pittman, to form Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman. If you have any questions about this article, you can reach Jefferson through our contact page.