How to Respond to an Unfair Auto Accident Settlement

Once you have suffered multiple injuries and property damages as a result of a car accident, you may be entitled to receive a fair settlement, one that will cover for all your injuries and car damages, as well as medical costs.

However, receiving a fair settlement is not always an easy task. According to the statistics, in the majority of cases, individuals receive a seemingly unfair settlement, one that does not cover for all the expenses. When that happens, your only option is to seek professional legal help.

Here is how you should act, and what exactly you should do.

Understanding The Situation

The most important thing concerning the car accident settlement is understanding how much money you should be looking to get. After you have talked to your personal injury attorney, you should have an insight into how much your case is worth. If you don’t have an attorney, contact our  Personal Injury Attorneys in Los Angeles and schedule your initial free consultation to learn everything about your case and what you can do to receive the settlement you deserve.

Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney

Once you find out how much money you may expect, be realistic and try and bargain around that figure. If your case is worth $40,000, negotiate the deal with the insurance adjusters and try and get it as close as possible to $40,000. Don’t expect to receive $45,000 or more; in reality, you will be offered anything between $25,000 and 35,000, with the odds leaning towards $25,000.

If you are offered that amount, and you know that you deserve more, consult with your attorney and let them take care of your case for you. Do not panic, it is not over yet.

Rejecting The Initial Offer

Upon receiving the offer that you do not like, you have the option to reject it and respond to the unfair offer. At this point, your attorney will begin the negotiations with the insurance adjuster in order to try and secure you a higher amount. This is where your medical bills, police report and other evidence come into play. At this point, it is all about proving that you (the victim) deserve a higher settlement.

Note that even after (and if) a counteroffer is made, your attorney can still reject it and seek a better one. These negotiations may last a few weeks until a fair deal is made. As long as your and your attorney’s demands are reasonable, the insurance company may offer a better deal.

Keep in mind that even after you have received a better offer, it may still be “unfair” and not what you expected. You can keep negotiating, or take the case to trial. Don’t be afraid to go in front of the judge. If you have all the required evidence and statements, you have nothing to worry about. Contact our Los Angeles Car Accident Attorneys and let them represent you and your best interests if the case proceeds to trial.