Should I Accept the Settlement Offer That the Insurance Company Makes? | No Win, No Fee | Free Consultation (2024)

Should I Accept the Settlement Offer That the Insurance Company Makes? | No Win, No Fee | Free Consultation (1)

You do not have to accept the settlement offer that the insurance company makes. Accepting an offer right away could be detrimental in some cases, as it may not be enough to cover the cost of your injuries and other losses. Remember, insurers rarely open with their best offer, as they operate as for-profit organizations, so you should never feel pressured to make a decision quickly.

Ourpersonal injury attorneyswill always act in your best interests. As such, we will carefully review your case’s facts to help you determine whether a settlement offer is appropriate for your circ*mstances. Meanwhile, this guide aims to answer common questions many clients ask about their settlement offers.

Why do Insurance Companies Offer to Settle Early?

While receiving a settlement offer right away may seem like a good thing, it is not beneficial in many personal injury cases. Offering an early settlement is a strategy an insurance company may use to minimize their company’s financial liability and capitalize on an injured person’s vulnerable position before they have clarity about the scope of their injuries.

It is a good idea to avoid accepting a settlement offer until you fully recover from your injuries or have a firm medical prognosis about them from your doctor.

For a free legal consultation, call (614) 538-1116

Can I Change My Mind After Accepting an Early Offer to Settle My Claim?

Once you have accepted an offer from the liable party’s insurance company, your case is closed. This means you cannot pursue any additional compensation, even if you discover you need extra medical care or treatment later.

Typically, you need to sign something to accept an offer, but sometimes, even a verbal agreement can be binding. If you ever feel stuck about answering or, worse, pressured into making a decision, you can always politely inform the insurance adjuster:

  • You do not have all of the information necessary to decide at this time.
  • You or your lawyer will be in touch when you fully know the extent of your injuries.

If you are unsure about your legal position, reaching out for a free case review with a personal injury law firm can be beneficial.

Related: What Should I Say if the Trucking Company Calls me Before I've Picked a Truck Accident Lawyer?

How do I Know If a Personal Injury Settlement Offer Is Fair?

Knowing the financial extent of your injuries and other losses can be difficult. Your claim’s value is determined by several factors such as:

  • The type of accident that caused your injuries
  • The extent and severity of your injuries and how they affect your daily life, family, and career
  • The total financial value of your damages, like medical bills, lost wages, ongoing treatment costs, and pain and suffering
  • Other costs associated with the claim
  • Whether there is potential for a defense based on contributory negligence, which means you are accused of sharing fault for the accident (Ohio Revised Code Section 2315.33)
  • The evidence available to support your case

An accurate estimate of your losses provides a benchmark for an appropriate settlement, so proving the financial extent of your injuries is critical to your case. You or your lawyer will need to gather evidence to demonstrate the present and future losses you have experienced due to your accident.

Evidence can come from medical records, diagnostic reports, wage stubs, and expert testimony. Once you have this information, it is easier to decide if you should accept the insurance company’s settlement offer.

Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today

Related: How Should I Talk to My Insurance Company after a Car Accident?

What Happens After I Reject an Insurer’s Injury Settlement Offer?

You do not lose your right to claim compensation by rejecting an offer. You should first submit a letter that outlines your refusal. This letter’s purpose is to formally notify the insurer that you do not accept their initial offer, why you feel you deserve a higher settlement amount, and what that amount is. One of our personal injury lawyers can help you draft this letter.

Presenting a counteroffer paves the way for settlement negotiations. Unsurprisingly, this can be stressful if you are unfamiliar with the process, and the insurance company can use this to its advantage. As such, it can be beneficial to have a lawyer take care of negotiations and case administration for you to even the playing field.

Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now

Related: My Insurance Company Says I do Not Need a Lawyer and Wants to Settle. Should I Approach One?

Where Can I Learn More About If I Should Accept an Insurer’s Settlement Offer?

If you have received a low settlement offer from an insurance company or feel an insurance adjuster is not treating you fairly, the injury attorneys at Bressman Law can help.

We have been helping injured people with their accident claims for over 30 years, so we know what a fair settlement looks like. If you have questions or want to learn more about your legal options,contact usfor a free case review.

Call or text (614) 538-1116 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form

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Should I Accept the Settlement Offer That the Insurance Company Makes? | No Win, No Fee | Free Consultation (2024)

FAQs

Should I Accept the Settlement Offer That the Insurance Company Makes? | No Win, No Fee | Free Consultation? ›

You do not have to accept the settlement offer that the insurance company makes. Accepting an offer right away could be detrimental in some cases, as it may not be enough to cover the cost of your injuries and other losses.

Is it better to accept a settlement offer? ›

When Should You Accept a Settlement Offer? Before accepting any settlement offer, you can have a personal injury attorney review it. If they advise that the offer is fair and in your best interest, accepting it may be the right move. The time frame depends on your situation.

Should I accept payment from an insurance company? ›

If you recently sustained a personal injury, do not accept an offer from any insurance company—yours or someone else's—without first speaking to an experienced lawyer. Offers that insurance companies make directly to injured individuals rarely pay you the amount you have the legal right to receive.

Should I accept the first compensation offer? ›

you don't have to accept any offer that's made to you. If you do accept an offer it might be lower than the compensation you would have got if you'd used a solicitor or gone to court instead. don't feel under any pressure to make a decision quickly.

What does it mean when an insurance company offers a settlement? ›

A settlement agreement includes releasing all liability for claims against the party who caused your accident. The insurance company is not responsible for anything else after you sign. No matter what happens, you cannot ask for more money in the future, and you cannot take the case to court.

How do you respond to a low settlement offer? ›

Gather evidence to support your claim. Make sure you have detailed proof of your losses, including medical bills, lost wage information, pain and suffering, and proof of any other losses you've had. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case for a higher settlement. Write a detailed demand letter.

What happens when you agree to a settlement? ›

They put the agreement in writing, and both parties sign it. Then, the settlement agreement has the same effect as though the jury decided the case with that outcome. Next, the parties execute the judgment by following the terms of the settlement, including making payment.

How do you accept a settlement offer letter? ›

State the settlement offer you are willing to accept and the reasons why. You can repeat the position you stated in the first demand letter. Your attorney can advise you on whether you should stick with the amount stated in your first demand letter or if you should present a counteroffer.

How to decline insurance offers? ›

To properly reject an insurance settlement offer, you must communicate the rejection in writing through a formal demand letter. This letter should clearly state the reasons for rejecting the offer, such as it not providing maximum compensation for the damages incurred.

How to negotiate a cash settlement with an insurance company? ›

8 Insurance Settlement Negotiation Tips
  1. Understand the Insurance Company. ...
  2. Initiate the Claim as Soon as Possible. ...
  3. Never Admit Fault for the Accident. ...
  4. Stick to the Facts, Never Speculate. ...
  5. Know the Rough Value of Your Claim. ...
  6. Be Patient, Do Not Accept the First Offer. ...
  7. Get Everything in Writing.

Should I take the first offer on an insurance claim? ›

It's generally not a good idea to take the insurance company's first offer for your car accident claim. These cases can take several rounds of negotiations to settle. You should only accept an offer that covers your expenses and losses.

Should you ever accept the first offer? ›

" So sometimes you should say Yes to the first offer, but it's almost a 100 percent rule that you should Never Jump at the First Offer. Key points to remember: Never say Yes to the first offer or counter-offer from the other side.

How to reject a compensation offer? ›

This letter should state:
  1. That you will not accept the initial settlement offer;
  2. The reasons why you feel you deserve a higher settlement amount;
  3. Each of their low-offer reasons, and your responses;
  4. The higher settlement amount that you will accept.

Should I take the settlement offer? ›

It is a good idea to avoid accepting a settlement offer until you fully recover from your injuries or have a firm medical prognosis about them from your doctor.

Is it good to pay settlement offers? ›

It's a service that's typically offered by third-party companies that claim to reduce your debt by negotiating a settlement with your creditor. Paying off a debt for less than you owe may sound great at first, but debt settlement can be risky, potentially impacting your credit scores or even costing you more money.

Why do insurance companies drag out settlements? ›

The expected insurance funds are often used to pay for medical treatment and auto, home, and property repairs. By delaying communication and payment, Insurance companies hope that you will accept a lesser settlement out of frustration, ultimately saving the company money.

Why do lawyers prefer to settle? ›

The litigation process has been criticized as expensive, time-consuming, stressful, rigid, public, and destructive to relationships. These characteristics make clients and their attorneys unhappy. Since a settlement agreement ends litigation, it also mitigates these effects, leading to happier clients.

Is it better to settle or not pay? ›

It's better to pay off a debt in full than settle when possible. This will look better on your credit report and potentially help your score recover faster. Debt settlement is still a good option if you can't fully pay off your past-due debt.

Does taking a settlement offer hurt your credit? ›

Debt settlement typically has a negative impact on your credit score. The exact impact depends on factors like the current condition of your credit, the reporting practices of your creditors, the size of the debts being settled, and whether your other debts are in good standing.

Why is settlement a good option? ›

Accelerating the process: Compared to other debt repayment strategies like debt consolidation or repayment plans, debt settlement can quickly resolve your debts. Avoiding bankruptcy: Debt settlement offers a bankruptcy alternative, allowing you to avoid the long-term financial consequences of bankruptcy filings.

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