While Legal Romantics like to characterize the trial of a lawsuit as a “Search For Truth” however, more often than not - - that’s not a reality!

Cases are decided on the evidence. When reviewing cases before them, judges invariably use the phrase, “The evidence shows”, rather than, “The truth of the matter is” . That first phrase is a reality that filters from the courtroom down to the objective evaluation of each case tried.

If Fred Fuddle is the town drunk, or if his conduct at the accident scene was provably abnormal than the value of your case should increase. If your injuries are visible and/or demonstrable, it’s likely your settlement will be larger. The conduct of both Fuddle and you before the accident may be significant. If you had been at a bar drinking heavily or raising holy fury out on the highway before the accident, you’ll likely get less regard from the jury than if you were driving to your house of worship with your family.

So, the circumstances of your behavior before, during, or after the accident increases or decreases the value of your settlement.

THE SIX MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN THE “EVALUATION PROCESS”: To be fully informed, you must know and understand the six primary evaluation elements that figure into the process of evaluation. They are as follows:

(1) THE FACTS

(2) THE EVIDENCE

(3) THE LAW

(4) YOUR INJURY

(5) SPECIAL DAMAGES

(6) THE INTANGIBLES

(1) THE FACTS: The gathering of the provable factual information is the first step in the evaluation. If you try to evaluate a claim (without as complete a file of facts as possible) is like going hunting for a lion with a slingshot.

(2) THE EVIDENCE: You must weigh all factual evidence known to you against the actual evidence you can produce to substantiate it. No matter what information you’re aware of, your position will always be stronger if you have the evidence to back you up.

For example: You can talk until the cows come home about the unsightly black-and-blue marks you had on your face, ribs, and hips, the scar on your forehead, or the 75 feet of skid marks Fred Fuddle’s auto left on the highway before he smashed into you, but Adjuster I. M. Smart will neither adequately comprehend nor want to believe you unless you provide him with photographs.

Providing Smart with the proof-positive of photographs will cause his Supervisor’s eyes to bulge as he inhales a deep breath of resignation and declares, “Hey, this one’s gonna cost us”.

QUESTION: "How can Dan be so sure about that"? ANSWER: "Because before Dan retired (after spending over 30 years on that firing line) he was an Insurance Adjuster, Supervisor, Manager and Trial Assistant. He's been there, saw, plus heard (and felt) that thousands of times!"

Whenever possible you must help Adjuster I. M. Smart justify the settlement figure he wants to get approved by his immediate superior at Granite Mountain Insurance Corporation.

(3) THE LAW: As proved in over 83% of the accidents in the United States in 2003 the impact you were subjected to is clearly the fault of the typical “Fumbling” Fred Fuddle - - so the law is on your side.

Armed with the information found in my third book AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) plus THE BASE FORMULA (The Baldyga Auto Accident Settlement Evaluation Formula) you’ll be able to do that. THE BASE FORMULA will correctly evaluate your “Pain and Suffering”.

(4) INJURY TO YOU: The seriousness of your injury has to be considered. (Ole’ Doc Comfort, your attending physician’s Medical Report, should go into detail about that).Your age will have an effect on the time it takes you to recover. The time you lost at work will have a direct bearing on the length of your recovery.

(5) SPECIAL DAMAGES: All of your direct and tangible losses are prime factors to be implemented in the consideration of the value of your claim.(Clearly stated details regarding "Special Damages" are found in Chapter Four of my book).

(6) INTANGIBLE ELEMENTS: These include your reasonableness, your economic status, your standing in the community, the obvious sentiment conjured up when one considers the degree of the seriousness of your injury, plus the attitude of Fred Fuddle (and often your witness) regarding your case.

Sympathy will come into play if you’re a widow or a highly respected Little League Coach, in contrast to your being identified as a raucous bum with a history of getting into scrapes with the law.

Emotional factors often have considerable weight in the evaluation of your claim. Whatever the intangible elements may be, you must force yourself to investigate and then evaluate them just as objectively as possible. So, if what’s being contended is incorrect, you can deny them (plus you must prove the conclusions not to be true) - - when and where it becomes appropriate to do so.

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By:  Dan Baldyga   Email: dbpaw@comcast.net. Copyright (c) 2005 By Daniel G. Baldyga. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission. Dan Baldyga has a lifetime of experience in motor vehicle accidents, personal injury and compensation. Over the years Dan has written several "How To" book's on this subject matter. Dans latest book AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) can be found on the internet at http://www.caraccidentclaims.com OR http://www.autoaccidentcaims.com

DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this article, THE TYPICAL ACCIDENT CLAIM EVALUATION PROCESS, is to help readers understand the motor vehicle accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga, EXPERTPAGES.COM nor FREEADVICE.COM make any guarantee of any kind whatsoever; NOR do they purport to engage in rendering any professional or legal service; NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, claims adjuster, or the like. Wherever such help is desired it is THE INDIVIDUAL'S RESPONSIBILITY to obtain such services.