If you have recently been injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, you may be dealing with his/her insurance company after filing a claim. It is not uncommon for the insurer to offer you an initial settlement within a few weeks or even days to resolve the case.
Financially, you may benefit from using the money to pay for your medical expenses, property damage, and supplement your lost wages due to missed work. However, accepting an insurance carrier’s first offer is not a good idea.
The following are some reasons why you shouldn’t accept the first settlement offer from the at-fault driver’s insurance company:
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Insurance adjusters are not on your side – Although insurance company representatives are generally friendly and sympathetic when speaking with you, they are looking out for their company’s own interests in order to save the insurer money by settling the claim quickly.
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The first offer is low – Accident victims are usually entitled to much more than their initial offer. Insurance adjusters are skilled at making injured individuals feel that the insurance company has the upper hand, and they are offering the maximum settlement. You still need to perform your due diligence by calculating the estimated costs of your losses.
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If you accept, the offer is final – Once you sign the dotted line on the settlement offer, you can no longer receive additional compensation. For example, if you end up with a permanent injury that requires long-term medical care after accepting the offer, you cannot reopen your case to obtain more money.
Before accepting any offer, you need to hire an experienced Dallas personal injury attorney to help you investigate the accident, gather evidence, and demand the compensation you deserve. At Mathias Raphael PLLC Accident & Injury Lawyers, we provide each client with knowledgeable and personalized legal representation to help them maximize their entitled settlement.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Texas or Illinois, contact us today at (214) 739-0100 for a free case evaluation. Serving clients in English and Spanish!