Our Washington Lawyer Outlines the Pitfalls of Accepting a Quick Truck Crash Settlement
If the insurance company for the negligent driver and trucking company immediately offers you a claim settlement, you may be tempted to accept it. After all, you’re most likely going through financial distress, especially if you have expensive medical bills for injuries and aren't receiving a paycheck because you’re off work recovering. However, if you say yes to this initial offer, you’re likely making a big mistake.
At Max Meyers Law, we have decades of experience fighting for truck accident victims' rights and understand this common insurance company tactic of offering a settlement when you’re most vulnerable and haven’t had time to consult with a lawyer. Learn why it’s important to recognize that you have options, and how we’ll fight vigorously for your rights so you have a better chance to receive the damages you’re entitled to for your injuries.
What Are the Dangers of Accepting the First Offer?
Understanding the intent behind an insurer’s initial settlement helps you to not be taken advantage of and lose your rights to a full accident investigation and complete negotiations. Here are the reasons our truck accident attorney recommends that you wait.
1. A Quick Settlement Benefits the Insurance Company
The insurance company is a business with a goal to make a profit. One way it achieves this is to extend a settlement soon after the collision. It’s almost always far less than what you might be entitled to under Washington law.
An insurance adjuster may try to settle your claim quickly—maybe even before you get out of the hospital—because they recognize you have a strong claim. For example, there may be compelling evidence that the trucker's negligent driving or other violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations caused your crash.
In addition, the trucking company may face vicarious liability for its employee’s actions or liability for other negligence, such as not complying with FMCSA rules about hiring qualified truckers, required vehicle maintenance, and more.
The adjuster may offer you a lowball offer before you have a chance to consult with our legal team in hopes you’ll believe they’re treating you fairly. However, if you want to receive the full value of your claim, consult with us before agreeing to any insurer requests or settling your case.
2. You Don’t Know the Full Extent of Your Injuries
Immediately after your truck accident, there’s no way of determining exactly how severe your injuries are and whether you’ll make a full recovery. Don’t settle your case until you reach your maximum medical improvement (MMI). This is the stage of your medical treatment where you have fully recovered, or the doctor can give you a final prognosis of your condition and the medical treatments you could need throughout your life. In addition, you won’t know if you can return to work until you reach this stage of your recovery.
Why is waiting for an MMI determination important to your settlement? You may be entitled to future damages. Our legal team can’t determine the future compensation you should receive until we know your final prognosis.
3. Your Settlement Will Be Final
Once you reach a settlement with the insurance company, that’s it. You won’t be able to reopen your claim to renegotiate it if you discover your injuries are more serious than you thought, or if you suffered additional medical issues related to the truck crash.
How Long Will It Take to Settle Your Claim?
Generally, truck accident injury cases last several months to a year or more. Unfortunately, no lawyer can give you an exact answer on how long before you receive compensation because every case is unique. Many factors—such as disputes raised by the insurer, when you reach MMI, or if your case has to proceed to litigation—all impact how quickly we can reach a fair settlement.
5 Ways to Increase Your Chances of Getting the Compensation You Deserve After a Washington Truck Accident
You must have strong evidence to prove your case and present a compelling argument to convince the insurance company to settle your claim for what it’s worth. Here are five steps we recommend you take to strengthen your claim:
- Get the medical care you need. A physician should examine you within 72 hours even if you don't believe you were hurt. Follow up with all your doctor's recommendations for treating your injuries and attend every appointment. Maintain detailed files regarding all treatments, related expenses, specialist visits, and other vital information about your injuries.
- Report the accident. Then, after the police have assessed the scene, order a copy of their report. It often includes valuable information that helps our team prove elements of wrongdoing and negligence for the truck crash.
- Gather evidence. While you’re not always able to do this, every bit helps. This includes photos and videos of the collision scene, your injuries, vehicle damage, weather and road conditions, skid marks, and so on. Also, save all medical bills and records, vehicle repair estimates, and pay stubs.
- Talk to witnesses. Again, if you can, speak to bystanders and obtain their contact information so our legal team can interview them and ask for a written statement while the crash is fresh in their minds.
- Hire an attorney. At Max Meyers Law, we take action as soon as you agree to work with us. We take over all communications with the insurance company, help gather essential evidence to prove your claim, fully evaluate your economic and non-economic damages, and power through negotiations so the first offer isn’t the only one on the table.
When it comes to negotiating a settlement for your injuries after a truck accident, not just any law firm will do. Our entire team takes pride in pursuing the results you deserve. We’re your partner through the whole process, giving you valuable insight and keeping you informed so you never have to worry about how the case is progressing. So when the insurance company calls you, tell them to call us instead.
