Coping with your injuries, expensive medical bills, and no income if you are too hurt to work after a car accident can be overwhelming and stressful. If the negligent driver's insurance company contacts you within days of the collision and offers you a settlement, you may be very tempted to accept it.
However, you would make a huge mistake if you said yes to their first car insurance settlement offer. At Max Meyers Law, our experienced Washington car accident lawyer will protect your rights and fight hard for the damages you deserve for your injuries.
Why You Shouldn’t Accept the First Car Insurance Settlement After a Washington Car Accident
If an insurance adjuster makes you a quick offer, they most likely know you have a strong case proving that their insured caused the accident. They may also realize that you may have suffered severe injuries, significantly increasing your claim's value.
You shouldn’t accept the first car insurance settlement no matter how much you need the money or want to move on from the incident. Here are just a few reasons why accepting the initial offer is a bad idea:
- The compensation is too low. The at-fault driver’s insurance carrier knows you’re feeling vulnerable right after the crash and may need money to pay medical bills and replace wages. It’s likely offering you a lowball offer hoping you’re desperate enough to accept it because its goal is saving money, not fulfilling the obligation to fully compensate you for economic and non-economic damages.
- You don’t know how serious your injuries are. You may have suffered a life-altering condition such as a traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, or soft tissue injury—but really haven’t experienced the full range of symptoms for days or weeks after the crash. In fact, it’s possible you won’t know how severe your injuries are, what medical treatments you need, and whether you’ll make a full recovery for weeks or months after the crash.
- Your settlement would be final. Once you agree to settle and sign the insurance company's release of all claims, the decision is final, even if you haven’t received a check yet. You can’t reopen your claim if you later realize your injuries are more serious than you originally thought or the offer was way too low.
4 Reasons to Call Max Meyers Law Before Accepting a Quick Car Insurance Settlement
After taking immediate care of your health, contact our experienced injury lawyer. Here’s why hiring our legal team is so important:
- You won't be taken advantage of. Besides trying to get you to accept a quick settlement, the insurance company might employ other tactics, such as getting you to give a recorded statement where you may accidentally make harmful statements or to sign a medical release so it can search all your health records. An adjuster might also use your statements or information they dig up to try to deny your claim or argue you were partially at fault for causing the car accident. However, our legal team takes over all communications with the insurance company so you don't agree to something that’s not in your best interests..
- Your case will be stronger. Attorney Max Meyers collects all the evidence you need to build a winning case. This means the value of your claim is more appropriate to your needs, and the insurer has a harder time denying to pay the damages you deserve.
- Your claim's value will be accurate. It’s our job to think of the full scope of your accident damages. To secure a fair settlement for you, our skilled team evaluates past and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity damages, and your pain and suffering compensation.
- We have strategies to fight back. Since 1997, Max has been fighting for the rights of car accident victims and uses his experience successfully settling and litigating their claims to secure proper justice for you, too.
