“I Had A Recent Car Accident- Should I Take The Settlement Offer From The Insurance Company?”

Picture this: you were in a car accident, you are injured, you are feeling all types of emotions—scared, worried, concerned—you don’t know what rights you have, and you receive a phone call from the at-fault driver’s insurance company offering “X” amount of money (usually a very low number) to settle your bodily injury claim. Should you take their initial offer? The answer is almost always: NO.

Frequently, insurance adjusters will try to quickly resolve the claim by offering a settlement. By doing this, they give you less time to seek medical attention for any possible injuries and also less time to consider whether you want to hire a lawyer. Although it may be tempting to accept an offer early on, it may be a costly mistake to accept that offer without first seeking legal guidance. 

Often times when you are involved in a car accident, your body may be in shock and you may think you feel “fine.” It may take days or weeks to realize that you are not fine. Therefore, it is always important to seek medical attention immediately following a car accident. It is never a good idea to accept settlement early on when you don’t know the extent of your injuries and whether you may need further medical care in the future. 

Moreover, insurance adjusters do not have your best interest at heart. Their priority is to settle the claim quickly and at the lowest possible cost for them, thereby saving the insurance company money. The initial offer is almost always too low. Think of it as a starting point for negotiations instead of as your only shot to be compensated for your injuries and pain and suffering. 

Before accepting any offer from an insurance company, it is best to always speak to a personal injury attorney who can advise you on your legal rights and can ensure that you get fairly compensated for your injuries and pain and suffering. Your attorney will always have your best interest at heart, unlike insurance adjusters.

At Aaron Ferguson Law, we specialize in helping people with complicated claims. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please call our office at 651-493-0429 to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.