Why Did I Receive a Low Ball Settlement Offer?
Insurance adjusters are trained to make a low ball settlement offer possible so they think you will accept your injury claim. And they often get away with it by being friendly and making it sound like they are on your side. While the adjuster understands that this offer is meant to be a launching point for negotiations, they are hoping that you don’t know that. The offer is typically made shortly after you open an injury claim, well before you know what your medical expenses will be, let alone the pain and suffering you will endure through the recovery process.
What you need to know about low ball settlement offer
Getting a low-ball settlement offer can be very disappointing; maybe because you know in your gut that it won’t be enough to cover all your current and future medical bills and lost wages but also because you are dealing with a traumatic injury and want to be treated with respect.
Insurance adjusters make low ball offers because they are looking out for the interests of the insurance company they work for. Make no mistake, the insurance company is only interested in protecting their bottom line, which means paying the lowest possible settlements regardless of what is fair.
When they are really playing hardball, they will deny the claim altogether; stating that it is not reasonable that your injuries could have been caused by the accident. In other cases, they will downplay your injuries or blame them on a pre-existing condition; casting doubt on your accounting of the accident. This is extremely easy for them to do if there was no damage to your vehicle or you did not seek medical care immediately following the accident. Sometimes, they will go so far as to imply that you are lying or that you are trying to commit fraud – these are tactics meant to intimidate you out of receiving the settlement you deserve.
To counteract this, it is extremely important to go to visit a physician after your accident for a full examination. Keep copies of all your medical records and any prescriptions or recommended treatments.
Why Did I Receive a Low Ball Settlement Offer?
In some cases, the adjuster makes a low ball offer because they are simply making assumptions about your accident and injuries. The offer could be low because they don’t have all the information that they would need to make a reasonable settlement. That’s why it is so important to keep records of all your medical bills and damages related to the accident. If you believe that the offer was calculated with incomplete information, then you or your attorney will want to provide information to the adjuster and ask them to re-evaluate.
There are a few other common reasons that you may have received a low-ball offer:
- There was little or no damage to your vehicle.
- You were already being treated for a pre-existing injury in the same area of your body injured by the accident.
- There is an unexplained gap in your medical records.
Should I ever accept the first settlement offer?
You should never accept the insurance company’s first settlement offer because you can safely assume it is a low ball offer. From the adjuster’s perspective, it is a starting point for negotiation and will just about never provide adequate compensation for medical bills and property damage, let alone your pain and suffering.
Why you need a personal injury lawyer to help you negotiate with the insurance company
Personal injury lawyers are highly trained to understand all the common tactics used by insurance companies to deny claimants a fair settlement. When you hire an injury attorney, they will identify the value of your claim (including both economic and non-economic damages), help you gather information to prove your claim and handle all negotiations with the insurance adjuster.
Seek the help of a personal injury attorney
If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from an insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County, and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing upfront and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
