If you’ve been involved in a serious collision, the last thing you want to have to worry about is an insurance company trying to lowball you. You’ve been through significant pain and suffering, so offering you a low settlement is like adding salt to the wound.
Unfortunately, insurance companies are not on your side. Despite the fact that the agent may want to do their best for you, their job is still to save their company money. They may try to offer you a settlement that seems fair but is well below what you deserve.
Insurance companies have one goal: To save money
It is the unfortunate truth that insurance companies have the goal of getting you to settle for as little compensation as possible. They should offer a fair and reasonable settlement, but many will offer a low amount first. Their thought process is that if you agree, then they save money by showing that you’re getting what you need. They protect their own profits and you get what you asked for.
Many people don’t realize that the first settlement offer is not the only offer they will receive. They don’t realize that they can negotiate and ask for more. That’s how some people get into a terrible situation where they’ve accepted a settlement and now cannot afford to cover their expenses.
What should you do if you are approached with a settlement offer?
If you are approached with a settlement offer, do not agree to it. In fact, you should not even speak with the insurance agent other than to tell them to contact your attorney.
When your attorney receives the offer, they can go over it with you and review it in comparison to what others in similar situations have been awarded. If the amount seems fair, they’ll communicate that to you. If not, they’ll let you know that, too.
Remember that your attorney can represent you in court if needed, so don’t feel that you have to accept a settlement that is too low. You can always take the insurance company to court if it isn’t willing to pay out what you need and hasn’t offered the maximum the policy allows.