Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Charlotte Injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “An adjuster for the at-fault driver’s insurance company has contacted me and has offered to settle my claim. Should I do this?”
If you have been injured because of someone else’s negligence, you may be considering filing a personal injury claim against the negligent party’s insurance company. Once you do that, you will be dealing with an insurance adjuster whose job is to value your claim and pay as little as possible.
The insurance adjuster will ask questions about your accident and injury to calculate the amount of your settlement. Then, you will receive the initial settlement offer, which can be tempting to accept it in the blink of an eye. But should you actually accept it?
Why You Should Not Accept the Initial Settlement Offer
The initial settlement offer made by an insurance company is rarely a good offer. Yes, you would definitely benefit from accepting the amount because you need to pay medical bills and other expenses. But in the long run, it would likely be much more beneficial to take your time and fight for fair compensation.
In other words, when you receive the initial settlement offer, in most cases you should not accept it no matter how tempting it might seem. Once you accept the offer, you lose the ability to demand additional compensation.
Reasons to Reject the Initial Settlement Offer
There are several reasons why you should reject the initial settlement offer and fight for the fair compensation you deserve:
- The initial settlement offer may pay for your past and current medical bills, but may not cover your future medical expenses;
- The first offer made by the insurance company may not cover your lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages and expenses that are worth fighting for;
- You have a right to reject the initial settlement offer;
- After you refuse to accept the initial offer, the insurer will most likely not revoke the offer or deny your claim altogether (even if they do, your personal injury attorney will pursue legal action against the insurance company);
- The insurance company is more likely to offer a fair amount when the injured party is represented by an attorney; and
- In most situations, insurance adjusters know that your personal injury is worth much more than their initial settlement offer; the low initial offer, even if not accepted gives them room for negotiation.
Why You Need a Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney
It can be difficult to handle a personal injury claim, navigate the legal process, communicate with the at-fault party’s insurance company, and negotiate a higher settlement amount. Luckily, you do not have to do any of this on your own.
You can – and should – focus on your recovery. Instead, you can let an experienced Charlotte personal injury attorney handle your case and maximize your recovery.
Your personal injury lawyer will review the initial settlement offer made by the insurer to determine whether the amount is fair or not. A knowledgeable lawyer will advise you on all the options available to you and help you make the right decisions to get the compensation you deserve.
Schedule a consultation with our personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, to determine whether you should accept the initial settlement offer or not. Contact our lawyers to receive a consultation. Call at (704) 370-2828 to discuss your case and explore your options.
Do not hesitate to contact our personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, if you have been injured. Call (704) 370-2828 to receive a video or phone consultation with our lawyers to explore your legal options or fill out our contact form. Now taking cases throughout North Carolina with offices in Uptown Charlotte, Mooresville and Monroe.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://injury.arnoldsmithlaw.com/personal-injury.html
Image Credit:
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/rejected-1238221
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