After a car accident, it's easy to see how accident victims are easy prey. Often, they just want to heal from their injuries and get their lives back to normal again. Unfortunately, those motivations could mean making a mistake when it comes to the financial side of things. If you've been injured in an auto accident that was not your fault, read on to find out how to avoid being pressured into signing away your compensation.

How Much Money is Owed to You?

This is not an easy question to answer, but you must at least have a ball-park figure in mind before you move forward. Most accident victims believe that the insurance company will do the right thing and pay what is owed, but that is not the case. Some accidents are complicated and some are simple, but knowing what you should be paid is best left to a legal professional. Settlements are based on a number of factors, and some of them can only be calculated using obscure information. Take a look at just some of the factors that might go into calculating an accident settlement:

• The severity of the injuries and the total amount of the medical expenses.
• Whether or not the other party was entirely or partially at fault for the wreck.
• The victim's age, occupation, family members, and salary.
• Common settlement payments for similar accidents in the same geographical area.

Don't Agree To or Sign Anything

In an effort to get things over with, some accident victims get tricked into signing an accident release. Unfortunately, once you sign something, you cannot reverse the consequences. No matter what the insurance adjuster for the other side tells you, it is probably not in your best interest to sign a release or accept a settlement without legal advice. Sometimes, you are asked to agree to a settlement far too soon. This is not a good thing. You may have future medical needs that should be addressed in the settlement, and medical care sure can be costly.

Instead of speaking to the adjuster, speak to a personal injury attorney. They often offer free consultations and can advise you on how best to proceed with your case. They will review the accident report, other evidence, and your medical records and provide you with an idea of what you might be entitled to receive. This one step could make the difference in just an "okay" settlement and one that covers all of your losses.

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