If you are injured in an auto accident and have an insurance agent reach out to you with an offer, it’s in your best interests not to accept that offer right away. It is important that you understand the full extent of your injuries, the cost of the medical care you’ve received and any other financial issues caused by the collision.
It’s a good choice to talk to your personal injury attorney about any offer you receive following a car crash, because there is a chance that it was a lowballed settlement offer. Insurance companies sometimes offer lowball settlement offers first, because they are hoping that you will accept less compensation. If you do accept less, then the company saves money.
Your claim is valuable
Your claim is valuable and should be treated as such. Your claim may actually be worth much more than the initial settlement offer, which is why you need to wait to add up your expenses and see how much you’ll need to cover before you accept an offer. The insurance company may try to say that you won’t get more, but the truth is that you have the right to negotiate and to fight for the compensation that you actually need to cover your losses.
Some of the expenses that you should consider in your personal injury claim include:
- Lost wages
- Medical costs
- Travel expenses to and from the hospital
- Costs for updating your home to suit a new disability
As a victim of a serious injury, you shouldn’t have to worry about an insurance agent trying to shortchange you. Unfortunately, they often do make offers that are unfair to victims, so you have to be clear about what you’re capable of asking for.
Understand your rights to make the most out of your insurance claim
When you learn more about your legal rights and take the time to assess the full value of your claim, you’ll have a better chance of negotiating for the compensation you need. If the insurance company won’t budge, it may be worth taking the claim to court as well.