Top Reasons Why You Must Reject The Insurance Company’s First Settlement Offer
An insurance policy pays money to compensate crash accident victims for their medical expenses, wage loss, pain and suffering, etc. Contrary to their expensive commercials, an insurance company is more likely than not, NOT be your friend. Remember that the primary goal of the insurance company’s adjuster and her supervisor will be to quickly settle the claim with you by giving you the closest amount to little or nothing.
The insurance company is expert in knowing that crash accident victims are in the most vulnerable position at such worry-filled period of their lives. Therefore, the insurance company see this as the most opportune time to throw you a bone, obtain your signature on the infamous RELEASE and close your file. Accepting the insurance company’s first settlement offer is a bad idea especially when it is related to your injury, pain, and suffering.
It is true that after the crash accident you need the compensation money, but you must receive all, not some, of your compensation. Here are some reasons why you must not agree with the insurance company’s first settlement offer.
It is a low-ball offer
It is certain that the insurance company will try to settle the claim with as low amount as possible. Therefore, the first offer will be the lowest one as they know often clients do not accept it. Without proper negotiation, it will be complete foolishness on your part to accept the first offer.
The insurance company knows that people often need the money after the crash accident, so that crash victims are less likely to negotiate or negotiate expertly with the insurance company. It will be wise to hire an expert California personal injury lawyer, who will take-on the insurance company on your behalf when it comes to claiming your compensation.
The agent works on behalf of the company
After you file the claim, an insurance company employee (adjuster) will investigate the matter prior to adjustment of your claim. Remember that the adjuster works not for you but for the insurance company and will not investigate the claim from a fair and independent perspective. She will try to blame you or third parties, but not it’s insured the defendant. Whatever it does, the insurance company will exploit any opportunity to diminish your claim.
However, having a crash accident attorney by your side will make it difficult, if not impossible, for the adjuster to get away with reducing your compensation. The lawyer will fight for you and get you the maximum amount of compensation you deserve.
Calculate the total cost of your expenses
While you’re healing after a crash accident, the insurance adjuster will under calculate your damages as low as possible. You should not rely on the adjuster’s calculation. On the contrary, you must hire an attorney who will calculate your damages and expenses in full after fully investigating and working up your case.
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages
- Future lost wages, if any
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
It usually takes some time to calculate all the expenses and damages including work pay loss. It can take months to do so. You must include the rehabilitation costs also after going through any surgery. All these expenses should be included in the final bill of expenses.
Your pain and suffering may not be calculated by adjuster
What about the pain and the suffering that you had undergone? The insurer will try to quickly pay you a nominal amount which will probably cover the basic expenses. But they will not count the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Physical impairment
- Physical disfigurement
If you suffered any of the above losses, then you must reject the amount the insurance company is offering. On the contrary, you must demand the fair compensation for the pain, suffering, depression, and/or anxiety that you have gone through.
Final Words
Hopefully, this discussion illustrates the reasons for rejecting the insurance company’s first settlement offer. Personal injury and insurance bad faith lawyers are trained well on how to deal with the insurance company adjusters to protect your best interest.
If you are facing a situation where the insurance company adjuster is offering you a first unfair settlement amount, please contact us. We are experts in handling such cases. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you will not pay us unless we first win your case against the insurance company.
