You should never automatically accept a personal injury settlement offer. When such offers are made, you should assume you’re being offered an amount much lower than what you need or could otherwise get with an attorney’s help.
Insurance companies are in the business of paying out as little as possible. While it might be tempting to accept a lump sum offer and get on with your life, that’s what the insurance companies are counting on you to do. By even offering a settlement, the insurance companies indicate that they fear you’ll get legal support to help you seek what you could truly recover in damages.
Accepting a Settlement Is Final & Binding
When it’s possible to recover more compensation than what’s offered in a settlement, accepting the settlement is very risky. This is because settlements are final and binding; that is, they force you to agree that the compensation offered is enough and that you relinquish your right to pursue further compensation through legal action.
This is why insurance companies are quick to offer settlements: They want to intercept victims who would otherwise have strong personal injury cases and offer them just enough money to satisfy the victims – all while protecting the companies’ bottom lines.
Your Injuries Might Be More Severe Than You Realize
The full extent of your injuries may not be known for weeks or even months later. For this reason, it’s a good idea to reject a personal injury settlement offer, especially if it only addresses the cost of superficial injuries you may have sustained. The important thing is to make sure you can recover damages for severe injuries that might require more costly medical care to address.
What Should I Do If I’m Offered a Personal Injury Settlement?
Pause, take a breath, and contact a personal injury attorney for help.
You might be told there’s a short deadline to accept a settlement offer, but this is a manipulative tactic used to get victims to agree to unfair settlements. California law gives you up to two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim, which can be a better opportunity to recover more in damages.
Attorneys like ours at Smolich and Smolich offer free initial case evaluations that you can use to seek out legal counsel. If you select us as your legal advocates, we can handle your claim with the personalized attention it needs to help you pursue the maximum possible compensation for your personal injury.
We at Smolich and Smolich don’t like seeing personal injury victims being taken advantage of – that’s why you can count on us to help you fight for what you deserve.
For more information or to schedule a free case review, contact us online.