Should You Accept the Insurance Company’s Offer After an Auto Accident?

Auto Accident Lawyer

If you’ve ever been in an auto accident, you know that one of the first things you’ll have to deal with is the other driver’s insurance company, which will determine how much compensation you earn from damages, as a lawyer such as a auto accident lawyer from a law firm like Yearin Law Office, can explain. After they send you an offer, you’ll need to ask yourself the question: Should I take it?

Should You Accept the Insurance Company’s Initial Offer?

The simplest answer to this question is: Probably not. Insurance companies will make multiple offers for any given accident, and the first one they offer you will be the lowest they think you’ll accept. If you reject the insurance company’s initial offer, they’ll likely offer you a better one if you decide to negotiate.

What Should You Do After Rejecting an Offer?

You’ll want to create a demand letter to send to the insurance company. An attorney can help you with this process. This will include items such as descriptions of the accident, which should include a detailed account of why the other party was at fault. The letter should also include ways that the accident has impacted your life that aren’t financial, such as emotional distress and psychological effects. At the end of the letter, you’ll want to cite a specific dollar amount that you’re expecting.

Your attorney will handle the actual negotiations with the insurance company. Each party will try to work out an amount, with your attorney attempting to maximize the offer.

What Else Should You Know?

Never forget that insurance companies aren’t looking out for your best interest. Their role in an auto accident claim is to settle for as little as possible, and thus they’ll be sending you offers that are the lowest they think you’ll be willing to accept.

You may wish to wait to negotiate with the insurance company so you can maximize how much you earn from them. Once you settle with an insurance company, you may not renegotiate later, so you’ll want to be sure you understand the extent of your injuries when factoring in the cost of medical care. Some injuries may not be immediately obvious and may expose themselves well after the accident took place.

An auto accident is stressful enough on its own, but dealing with the insurance company adds an extra layer that you’ll need to deal with. If you’re in an auto accident, contact an auto accident lawyer so they can earn you the compensation to which you may be entitled.