Should I negotiate the personal injury settlement offer made by the insurance company?
Yes, but, I would consult a personal injury lawyer with years of experience in negotiating accident cases right away. Most insurance companies will not make fair offers to individuals not represented by an attorney. They are not in the business of advising you what factors help them determine value or increase their offers. We discuss those important factors here: Pain and Suffering
Also, there are many legal issues surrounding your case that insurance companies will not point out to you or give you proper legal advice. These issues can cost you thousands upon thousands of dollars. This alone is worth hiring an attorney to handle your case. Insurance companies will not give you proper legal advice and will not look out for your best interest. They will not negotiate outstanding medical bill balances or explain to you complicated subrogation laws.
On many occasions, prospective clients call us and tell us the insurance company has offered them $500.00 or $2,500.00 or some other figure that does not come close to a fair amount. I have represented multiple individuals who have hired us after getting a horrible offer and we have obtained settlements over 10x the initial amount offered by the insurance company. Clearly, hiring an attorney was well worth it as the client’s recovered a substantial amount more even after attorney fees.
If you were in a car accident and in negotiations with an insurance company there is never a downside to asking for more…the worst they can say is “no.” There is also never a downside to speaking with a personal injury lawyer who offers free consultations. Take the time to ask any and all questions you might have and find a personal injury lawyer whose practice is focused solely on handling personal injury matters. It’s hard, if not impossible to be proficient and effective in multiple areas of the law.
If you have been injured in a car accident and need a lawyer, please contact us so we can discuss your case in more detail:
Pierce County car accident: (253) 761-1000
Kitsap County car accident: (360) 377-7100
North Kitsap car accident: (360) 377-7100
