The only thing more stressful than dealing with an injury is trying to settle an injury lawsuit. That's why it will help to remember the following things when settling your claim.
Insurance Adjusters Want to Settle an Injury Claim
The first thing to know is that the process goes much smoother with a legal professional on your side, such as a car accident attorney. The next thing to keep in mind is that the insurance adjuster always wants to settle a claim when possible. As long as you keep working with them and coming down from your first offer, they will likely keep counter-offering. They know that the cost of going to court can potentially exceed a higher settlement value, and will try to keep things out of court if possible.
Know That You Can Always Go to Trial
If you are not happy with the offers that are being given to you by the insurance adjuster, know that trial is always an option. This should only be used as a last resort, because the cost of a trial includes both the time it will take and the money you will spend in terms of court costs and lawyer fees. While it all comes out of your settlement, you need to be confident that you can get awarded more compensation by a judge to make it worthwhile. You shouldn't go to trial just to spite the insurance adjuster, because it's not their own money that they are giving you.
Insurance Adjusters Know What Your Case Is Actually Worth
Be aware that an insurance adjuster has worked on countless cases very similar to yours in the past, and they know what your case is worth. Trying to settle for an amount much higher than what they have historically seen in the past may not work. That's why it's important to do your own research and know what is a reasonable amount of compensation to ask for, which helps you learn when to accept a settlement offer.
Insurance Adjusters Can Counter Offer Multiple Times
There is no rule as to how many times an insurance adjuster can counter an offer as part of negotiating an injury settlement. Expect counter-offers to happen, potentially even multiple counteroffers from the adjuster. If your offer is accepted after the initial offer, it's likely that you asked for a low amount of money that is below what the insurance provider typically settles for.
Make sure that you not only are open to compromise during negotiations, but that you work with a lawyer to help ensure the best possible outcome for your injury case.
Share15 April 2022
When I was injured in a slip and fall accident a few years ago, my family and friends had a hard time relating to the things I was going through. While some people thought that my decision to file a lawsuit was frivolous, others were under the impression that I would walk away as a millionaire. Their lack of personal experience with this type of legal problem left me feeling alone during one of the most difficult times in my life. That is why I decided to start this blog so that accident victims from all over would have somewhere to come to get the information and support that they need. I truly hope that this page can be that place for you.