Not every case is a slam dunk. Sometimes itâs a twisted ankle in a Walmart parking lot and sometimes itâs a pot of gold. If youâre wondering if your claim is more âair ballâ or âall net,â hereâs what you want to see:
1- The Other Person Was 100% at Fault đ
No wishy-washy stories or âwell, technicallyâŠâ moments. Especially in states like Florida, where the â51% ruleâ means if youâre mostly to blame (51% or more), you receive nothing. If youâre 50% or less at fault, you can still collect, but your payout gets sliced by your percentage. For example, if youâre 30% at fault, you only get 70% of the settlement.
Is your head spinning yet?
2- You Went to the Doctor Immediately đ„
You didnât tough it out for three weeks or use a bag of frozen peas. You got medical treatment right away, and thereâs a paper trail to prove it.
3- Thereâs Proof And a Lot of It đž
Photos, videos, police reports, witness statements⊠if your Dropbox is overflowing, youâre doing it right. The more evidence, the less the insurance company can argue.
4- You Actually Got Hurt (And Itâs in Writing) đ€
âI was a little sore,â doesnât really cut it. Weâre talking real injuries, with real records like MRIs, physical therapy, notes from your doctors, and even those cringey hospital selfies.
5- You Lost Money or Missed Work đž
Medical bills, pay stubs showing time off, receipts for anything out-of-pocket: if you can show you lost real cash, youâve got leverage.
6- The Defendant (or Their Insurer) Can Pay đŠ
You canât squeeze water from a stone. But if the at-fault party has real insurance or deep pockets, suddenly everyoneâs a lot more interested.
7- Your Story Never Changes đŁïž
No âwait, was it Tuesday or Friday?â plot twists. If your story stays consistent from day one, you look credible. And credibility is everything in the PI world.
Pro Tip:
If your case checks most of these boxes, donât brag about it to the adjuster, just let your evidence (and your attorney) do the talking.