Miami Car Accident Attorney – If you have been injured in a traffic accident and the other driver is at fault, like night follows day, you will receive a settlement offer from the other driver’s insurance company in short order. It might cover your property damages – damages to your car, most commonly – but it might not. It might cover your medical costs, but it might not. It might cover your lost wages from the time you had to take off from work as a result of the accident, but it might not. If you are a betting person, you probably should go with “it might not” on all three of those propositions.
The fact is, the insurance company for the person at fault in the accident – or even your own insurance company – has no incentive to offer you a single nickel more than they have to. If they can offer you an amount that is too low, and you take it, they will write that check as fast as they can before you change your mind. Taking the first offer – especially when the other driver was at fault –could rank among the worst decisions you will ever make.
When an Insurance Company Low-Balls You, What Should You Do?
Should You Settle After Your Car Accident Case – Miami Personal Injury Attorneys
No matter whether it is your insurance company or the other driver’s, you can pretty much count on their first offer coming in low. Insurance companies don’t make money by giving out a generous settlement. They try to minimize losses, and settlement payments go on the “losses” side of the ledger. Insurance adjusters have a range within which they can make a settlement offer. Their first offer will always be at the low end of that range. You need to realize they can give you more, and treat the first offer accordingly. Feel free to reject an offer that you believe is too low.
Your car might be totaled, and the settlement offer might only cover the current market value of your car, not the amount you owe. The portion of the settlement covering medical costs is likely to ignore the possibility of future medical expenses or continuing care. Further, the settlement likely will not include lost wages from days you couldn’t work, quite possibly even if you informed them of the lost work time. The insurance company is counting on the likelihood that you need the money now, and can’t afford to wait to get your actual damages.
This ploy actually works often. For many victims, they feel it’s better to get whatever they can as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this can be extremely short-sighted. Your damages almost always will exceed an insurance company’s first offer. You need to get professional help to get the damages you actually are entitled to.
If You Have Been Injured in a Traffic Accident, Contact a Miami Personal Injury Attorney Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation
Should You Settle After Your Car Accident Case – Miami FL Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been injured in a traffic accident in the Miami area and an insurance company is offering you a settlement, you should talk to a Miami personal injury attorney. The offer almost undoubtedly is too little to cover your actual damages. You should speak with a Miami personal injury attorney to explore your options for recovering damages. Contact Flagler Personal Injury Group at (305) 424-8445 or through our online contact form. Our lawyers work with clients throughout the greater Miami area.
We handle a variety of cases, so call us now if you have any questions.
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