If you’ve ever been involved in an accident that resulted in injury and an insurance claim, you may already know some insurance companies are quick to offer a settlement. Do you have to accept the offer? What else can you do? The following are a few steps you can take to properly handle an offer, regardless of how much it is.
Take a Moment to Think
Most insurance companies will let you think on the offer, though there are some that could get pushy and try to get you to accept it right away. If they’re being pushy, kindly inform the representative you’re hanging up and he or she can speak with your attorney. If the insurer is being kind, just let him or her know you’re going to think about it for a few days. There’s no reason you have to accept an offer immediately.
Contact an Attorney
Your personal injury attorney might be the best-equipped individual to help you determine whether the offer is fair. It might be obvious right away that the insurance provider is lowballing the offer, but it could also take some calculating to figure it out. For example, your injuries may include broken bones that will be healed enough for you to start working again in just a few months. While that sounds easy enough to be compensated for the medical bills you incurred and the few months of lost wages, there could be other factors at play.
The bones you broke could also have such severe damage, you won’t be able to get back to your regular job. This could mean you have to take a cut in pay because of your injuries. You should be compensated for that as well. There’s also the chance you’ll need to undergo physical therapy to regain proper motion after you’re healed, and you should be compensated for that, too. Your lawyer will help you figure all of this out.
Weigh Your Options
Perhaps you feel you can be compensated for more if you go ahead and sue the individual, rather than taking the insurance offer. While this might seem like a great option, you have to consider everything. For example, perhaps the insurance company is offering you $50,000, but your attorney feels he or she can get you $60,000. After the contingency fee for your attorney, you might only bring in $40,000, making the insurance offer a better deal.
Contacting an Attorney to Walk You Through It
Whether you choose to accept the offer or move ahead with a lawsuit, experienced Elizabeth, NJ personal injury lawyers, such as from Rispoli & Borneo, P.C., can walk you through the process. Contact a personal injury attorney today to move the process along.