When an insurance company makes a settlement offer after a car accident, you may be tempted to accept it right away, especially if you’re facing significant medical expenses. However, these initial offers rarely provide the full compensation you need, and an attorney can help you pursue more.
An experienced Connecticut car accident attorney can negotiate a fair settlement that gives you the funds necessary to cover your medical bills and rebuild your life after a crash. They’ll use their skills and experience managing complex negotiations to fight for the justice you deserve.
Why Is It Best to Not Accept Your First Settlement Offer?
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses. They protect their profits by minimizing payouts to injured people. By making low settlement offers right out of the gate, they can take advantage of accident victims’ desperation, financial need, and lack of understanding of their legal rights. Unfortunately, many people do accept these lowball offers because they need money and don’t understand the repercussions of accepting a settlement without the input of a car accident lawyer.
Because these initial offers often fall short of providing the full compensation you deserve, it’s rarely a good idea to accept them. You could miss out on the full compensation you need to cover your medical treatment, lost income, and other losses resulting from an accident. Even worse, you get only one chance to accept a settlement – you can’t go back and ask for more if your expenses are more than the offer you accepted.
Consulting with an attorney before you speak to insurance adjusters can protect you from tactics designed to minimize your compensation. Your lawyer will review the offer and negotiate a settlement reflecting the true extent of your injuries and losses. Contact our Hartford car accident lawyer today.
What Should I Do After Receiving the Insurance Company’s First Settlement Offer?
When you receive a settlement offer from the at-fault driver’s insurance company, contact a car accident attorney if you haven’t already. They will carefully review the offer and gather all relevant information about the accident and your injuries, including medical records, vehicle repair records, and the police report. From there, they can assess the offer’s fairness and help you understand whether it meets your needs. Your lawyer will also guide you on the next steps, whether that means negotiating for a higher amount or gathering additional evidence to strengthen your car accident claim.
What Things Should I Consider Before Accepting the Insurance Company’s Offer?
There are several key factors you’ll need to consider before accepting the insurance company’s car accident settlement offer:
- Determine whether you have completed your medical treatment
- Evaluate your current and anticipated future medical expenses, including long-term care or rehabilitation
- Consider the accident’s impact on your ability to work and earn income
- Assess vehicle and other property damage from the collision
- Calculate all out-of-pocket expenses you’ve incurred
- Account for the pain and suffering you’ve experienced due to the accident
Your personal injury attorney will help you thoroughly evaluate these factors and determine if the offer truly compensates you for all your losses or if further negotiations are necessary.
What Happens If I Turn Down the Car Insurance Company’s First Settlement Offer?
By rejecting the auto insurance company’s initial settlement offer, you start a negotiation process that aims to secure full and fair compensation for your injuries and other losses. You and your attorney signal to the insurer that you believe your insurance claim is worth more based on the evidence and that you are willing to fight for what you deserve.
As negotiations get underway, your attorney will bring your evidence to the table and call upon their experience and skills to justify a higher settlement amount. Negotiations may go through multiple rounds of offers and counteroffers. Most car accident claims are settled through this negotiation process. But if the insurer doesn’t offer a fair settlement, your attorney may recommend filing a lawsuit and pursuing compensation through the court system.
What If I Accept the First Offer and Later Find My Injuries Have Not Healed?
One of the most significant pitfalls of accepting the insurance company’s first offer is discovering afterward that your injuries are more severe than you initially thought. This means you’ll require additional treatment with more expenses.
Unfortunately, you forfeit your right to pursue additional compensation by accepting a settlement offer. You can’t go back and ask for more money. This is why it’s essential to understand your medical condition and future needs before taking a settlement. Working with a skilled car accident lawyer can help you avoid accepting an offer that fails to meet your needs.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help Me with the Settlement Offer from the Insurance Company?
Your car accident attorney is your top ally in your fight for fair and just compensation. When you contact a lawyer as soon as possible after a collision, they can get to work immediately on building your claim. They will:
- Evaluate the insurance company’s offer to determine whether it’s fair and sufficient to cover your expenses and losses
- Gather evidence, including medical records, physical evidence from the accident scene, and testimony from eyewitnesses and outside experts
- Handle all communications and negotiations with the insurance company to protect your rights, combat their tactics for minimizing payouts, and reduce the risks associated with accepting an offer too soon
- File a lawsuit and represent you in court if necessary to secure the compensation you deserve
Working with an experienced lawyer doesn’t just take the stress of pursuing compensation off your shoulders – it also ensures you demand the full funds you need to heal and move forward after a crash.
Contact a Connecticut Car Accident Lawyer
You have a lot on your plate in the aftermath of a car wreck. If you’re dealing with serious physical injuries, you deserve to be able to focus on getting better. Let the knowledgeable Connecticut car accident attorneys at Jainchill & Beckert, LLC go up against the insurance companies on your behalf to fight for the total compensation you need to move forward. Contact us 24/7 to get started with a free case review.
