If you were involved in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you have likely filed a claim with an insurance company to seek compensation for your injuries. However, you may be offered an unacceptably low settlement offer that doesn’t cover the full extent of your damages.
When dealing with the emotional and financial stresses of recovering from an accident, receiving an unfair settlement offer can be discouraging. Although you may urgently need the money to cover medical bills and living expenses if you cannot work, it’s critical that you do not let the insurance provider pressure you into accepting a lower amount than you deserve.
If you are involved in a car accident in Massachusetts, set up a free consultation with our Boston car accident lawyers, who can help you understand your rights and fight for the compensation you are owed.
Reasons for Low Settlement Offers
An insurance company makes a settlement offer in exchange for an agreement that you will not sue the party responsible for the negligent behavior that resulted in your injuries. Ideally, you are offered adequate compensation for your financial losses. However, this is often not the case.
The first thing to do is determine whether there is a legitimate reason the insurance company is offering a low settlement. If the adjuster is lacking medical bills and records from you to support your claim, you should provide the missing records and ask them to reevaluate the claim. To determine whether the insurance company has everything it needs, you can simply call them and ask them to explain how they calculated the amount.
There may be other reasons the insurer doesn’t have a full picture of the damages you have incurred. Your medical recovery may be ongoing, and your doctors can’t make an accurate estimate of when your treatment will conclude. Or, you may have pre-existing injuries in those parts of your body affected by the crash, which complicates the matter of determining the extent of the negligent party’s responsibility.
Responding to a Low Settlement Offer
While there could be a justifiable reason for a low settlement offer, insurance companies are also known to offer a lower amount initially to see if you will accept. For those handling the claim without an attorney, it’s easy for insurance companies to take advantage of you in this way. They may assume that you don’t know the value of your claim.
If you think you have filed your claim correctly and have provided all the relevant materials and you still receive a low settlement offer, do not accept this amount.
The best course of action is to hire a lawyer with a proven track record of success in personal injury law. An attorney can provide an accurate estimate of what your losses are worth and work with you to build a case demonstrating the damages incurred.
A lawyer has resources at their disposal to gather evidence that supports your claim, including taking witness statements, obtaining security camera footage, and deposing witnesses or the defendant.
If your attorney can prove that another party’s negligence was the cause of your accident and an insurance company settlement will not cover your expenses, you may also be able to pursue a lawsuit for additional compensation. A lawsuit allows you to seek non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering or loss of quality of life.
Don’t Settle For Less: Contact Jason Stone Injury Lawyers
If you have been involved in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence in Massachusetts, contact Jason Stone personal injury lawyers immediately for a free consultation.
A car accident attorney at our law firm can help you file your claim, protect your rights, and negotiate with the insurance company, resulting in a higher settlement amount. The sooner you hire an attorney, the sooner we can begin collecting evidence and begin negotiations with the insurance company. Insurance companies have a team of professionals building their case; it evens the playing field when you have legal representation.
Our contingency fee means that we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no risk in hiring us to handle your claim. With the support of our personal injury lawyers, you can get peace of mind.
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