To successfully negotiate your insurance claim, you really need to think about what to do before you are involved in an accident. The old scout motto “Be Prepared” is really where we need to start. Most people get in there cars and just drive. They don’t think about the consequences of being involved in an accident until its too late.

The first place to start is by purchasing the correct insurance policy that will cover you in case of an accident.

Next, you need to have the correct tools readily available in your car should you ever get involved in an accident. A cell phone with a camera and a pen with a notepad are a great place to start. Take photos of the accident scene, damaged vehicles and injuries. Write down the other drivers information, witness names and phone numbers, location, time, weather condition and anything else you want to remember to include in your statement with the police and for your own records.

Once you have been involved in an accident, no matter how small or insignificant it might seem, its important to protect yourself by always calling the police. Give an honest statement to the officer, but be careful not to say anything incriminating.

Now that your car is all banged up, you need to get it fixed or replaced. See our property damages section for information on how to get your car fixed.

If you are injured, its time to think about the type of care that you need to receive. Not all forms of treatment are alike, so make sure you understand what insurance companies look for when evaluating your medical records and bills. Check out our medical treatment section for tips on seeking medical care.

Finally, its time to negotiate your settlement. In order to successfully negotiate your settlement, you need to know how complicated your claim is and you need a way to determine the value of your claim. With our Free Crash Evaluator™, you can determine if your claim is one you can handle on your own or if it is too complicated and requires the assistance of an attorney.

To find out more about the value of your claim, we discuss how much your claim is worth in our complete “how to” guide: The Personal Injury Settlement Booklet™.

Feel free to use any and all of our services to successfully negotiate your injury claim. Good luck!