Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence involves multiple steps, one of which might involve fielding settlement offers from insurance companies. However, these initial offers often fail to fully recognize your losses and aren’t always sufficient to cover all of your losses.
Understanding how to assess if an offer is fair can make or break your financial situation after an accident. Here’s what you should keep in mind:
Insurance Companies Aren’t on Your Side
While insurance adjusters might seem caring and willing to help you reach a quick resolution, remember that their primary responsibility is to their employer’s financial interests. This means they’re often more focused on closing cases with minimal company loss rather than awarding claimants comprehensive settlements.
Being aware of this can prompt a more cautious assessment of any compensation proposed by an insurance company following your accident. Prioritizing thorough evaluation over speed is key when dealing with insurance companies after your car accident.
Consider More Than Just Medical Expenses
While medical bills are likely to be a significant chunk of accident-related expenses, it is important to also consider other financial impacts. These might include lost wages if you’re unable to work due to injuries, future healthcare costs for ongoing treatment or rehabilitation, and pain and suffering and other emotional injuries.
When evaluating a settlement offer after an accident, you should always take into account more than just current expenses to make sure you truly get what you deserve so you can focus on your recovery.
Be Aware of Insurance Policy Limits
In any car accident case, one important consideration is insurance policy limits of the at-fault party. These represent the maximum possible payout you could receive – and unfortunately, the value of the offer may not match what your actual damages are.
If you’re not satisfied with this amount, you can consideer filing a personal injury lawsuit against the defendant to obtain the difference in your losses and what insurance was able to provide.
Choose Your Lawyer Wisely – Experience and Skill Matter
Your car accident lawyer in Fresno plays a pivotal role in securing an adequate settlement for damages resulting from a car accident.
An experienced and skilled personal injury lawyer will know their way around negotiating with insurance companies. They’ll be armed with the knowledge to calculate a fair value for your claim as well as evidence to present to the insurance company to get them to provide you with a reasonable offer.
Be Realistic
Emotions run high following a car accident, and your initial expectations for compensation could be influenced by stress or uncertainty about your recovery and future. However, it’s important to approach settlement negotiations with a clear understanding of the value of your claim and a realistic idea of what you may receive.
Be Patient – The First Offer is Almost Never The Best
In car accident cases, obtaining the compensation you deserve often involves extended negotiations. The first offer from an insurance company is seldom its final or best one – adjusters tend to set initial offers low, giving themselves ample bargaining room.
Remaining patient and holding out for a better offer can make all the difference when it comes to receiving adequate financial support after your accident.
Ultimately, the best way to determine if you’re looking at a fair offer is to speak with your Fresno injury lawyer and let them help you evaluate the situation and the offer. If you need guidance or suspect that your settlement offer could be better, don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule a free consultation.