If you’ve been hurt in an accident and are trying to get money from the other person’s insurance company, getting a low-ball settlement offer can be frustrating and discouraging. But it’s important to remember that first offers are often just a starting point. You have the right to fight for the money you deserve. But, don’t know how to respond to a low settlement offer?
At Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, our experienced Memphis car accident attorneys will provide you with strategies for responding to low-ball insurance offers and protecting your rights throughout the claims process.
Understanding Why Insurance Companies Make Low-Ball Offers
Before we talk about how to respond to a low settlement offer, it’s important to understand why insurance companies often make low-ball offers in the first place. Some common reasons are:
- They hope you’ll take the offer because you’re desperate or don’t know your rights.
- They want to pay as little as possible to protect their profits.
- They think you might be partly to blame or at fault for the accident and are trying to pay less.
- They don’t have all the information about your losses, either because you haven’t given them enough proof or they haven’t looked into your claim enough.
Knowing these reasons can help you approach the negotiation process with a better plan and avoid falling for the insurance company’s tricks.
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What Happens When You Reject an Insurance Settlement Offer
If an insurance company offers you a low-ball settlement, you have the right to say no. How to respond to a low settlement offer? Keep negotiating for a fairer amount and reject an offer if it doesn’t suit your needs. When you reject an offer, a few things might happen:
- The insurance adjuster might come back with a slightly higher offer, but it might not be enough.
- The adjuster might ask for more proof or evidence to support your claim for higher damages.
- The adjuster might stop responding to your calls or emails, hoping you’ll get frustrated and take the low offer.
- The insurance company might try to say the accident was partly your fault or that your injuries aren’t as bad as you say.
It’s important to be ready for these possibilities and to have a clear plan for continuing the negotiation process before the statute of limitations lapses. This is where having an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side can make a big difference.
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Strategies for Dealing with Inadequate Insurance Proposals
If you’re faced with a low-ball insurance offer, there are several things you can do to fight for the money you deserve:
- Rejecting a settlement offer. Don’t take the first offer. Do not accept a settlement offer that is inadequate for your expenses. As we said before, first offers are often just a starting point. Don’t feel pressured to take an offer that doesn’t fully pay you for your losses.
- Gather the evidence you need 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. After you’ve gathered your evidence, write a letter to the insurance company explaining your losses and how much money you want. Be specific and use your collected evidence to support your demand.
- Be ready to negotiate. Negotiating a settlement for an injury claim is often a back-and-forth process. Be prepared to counter the insurance company’s offers and give more evidence if they ask for it.
- Don’t be afraid to file a lawsuit. If the insurance company doesn’t make a fair offer, you might need to file a lawsuit to get the money you deserve. Having a lawyer on your side can make this process of filing insurance claims easier and less stressful.
Using these steps can help you deal with negotiations and work towards getting a settlement that’s fair to you in the long term.
Dealing with an Insurance Adjuster Who Isn’t Responding
One of the most frustrating parts of dealing with a low-ball insurance offer is when the adjuster stops responding to your calls or emails. Insurance companies often use this tactic to wear down people and pressure them into taking a lowball offer. If you’re in this situation, here are a few things you can do:
- Send a written follow-up. If you’ve been trying to reach the adjuster by phone, send a follow-up email or certified letter. Outline the times you’ve tried to contact them and ask for a response by a specific date.
- Take the issue to a supervisor. If the adjuster still doesn’t respond, contact their supervisor or the insurance company’s claims department directly. Explain the situation and ask for someone else to be assigned to your case if needed.
- Hire a lawyer. If you’re still not getting a response or the insurance company won’t make a fair offer, hire a personal injury lawyer. An experienced lawyer can take over communication with the insurer, aid in returning your calls, and fight for the money you deserve.
Taking these steps can help you address the issue of an unresponsive adjuster and continue working towards a fair settlement.
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How an Attorney Can Help You Respond to Low-Ball Insurance Offers
Dealing with low-ball insurance offers can be stressful and overwhelming, especially when you’re also trying to recover from your injuries. That’s why it’s so important to have an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side for your personal injury claim. A lawyer can:
- Communicate with the insurance company for you, taking the stress and frustration out of the negotiation process.
- Gather and present evidence to support your claim for higher damages.
- Negotiate skillfully with the insurance adjuster to work towards a fair settlement.
- Advise you on when to accept an offer and when to keep fighting for more money.
- If needed, file a lawsuit and represent you in court to get the damages you deserve.
Having a skilled attorney by your side can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. They can also help you obtain the compensation you need to move forward and help you get paid quicker.
Get Help from Experienced Memphis Attorneys to Avoid Low-ball Insurance Offers
At Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, we have over 50 years of experience fighting for the rights of accident victims in the Memphis Tri-State Area. We know how to respond to a low settlement offer and are committed to helping our clients get the total and fair compensation they need to move forward with their lives.
If you’ve been hurt in an accident and are struggling to get a fair settlement offer from the insurance company, don’t hesitate to call our office at (901) 526-2126 or visit our website to schedule a free consultation. We work on a contingency plan that allows you to not pay any costs or legal fees unless we win. Let us put our team’s experience, knowledge, and resources to work for you and help you get the compensation you deserve.
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January 5, 2017
