Should I Accept the Insurance Company's Settlement Offer?

Published on: 09/06/22 — In 

After getting into an accident one of the most commonly asked question is should I accept the insurance company’s settlement offer? Accepting the insurance company's settlement offers is not always the best option. If you have been injured at work, you may want to consider accepting the insurance company's settlement. However, if you feel that you were wrongfully terminated, you should consult with an attorney before making any decisions.

Insurance companies often settle cases out of court. Most of the time after an auto accident occurs, insurance companies will make you an offer that is most of the time a low-ball offer. If you do decide to take the insurance company's settlement, make sure that you understand what you're signing. You may not realize that you are giving up certain rights.

Chris Ktenas discussing whether or not his client should accept an insurance settlement offer

There are many factors that go into determining whether or not you should accept the insurance company's offer. These include how much money you would receive from the settlement, how long it would take to get back on your feet, and how likely you are to win your case in court.

When deciding whether or not to accept the insurance company's proposal, you should weigh all factors carefully to evaluate if the settlement agreement is sufficient. It's important to consider the types of damage incurred so you can calculate the cost. For any questions or concerns you may have about insurance settlement offers, contact our Chicago, IL personal injury attorney today for a free consult!

Why Do Insurance Companies Quickly Make a Settlement Offer?

A settlement offer is a quick way to get rid of a claim without having to go to trial. If you have been injured in a car accident, you may receive a settlement offer from the insurance company before going to court. You don't want to wait until after you've gone to court after filing the claims process to find out if you'll win or lose your case. In many cases, the insurance companies will pay you a lump sum amount right away instead of waiting until after the trial.

Insurance companies often offer quick settlements because they know that the average person doesn't have the time or money to fight an insurance claim in court. By offering a settlement, the insurance company knows that they won't have to spend any additional money on legal fees.

insurance claim  form on desk with glasses and coffee

An insurance company settlement offer isn't always bad. Sometimes, the insurance company will give you a larger payment than what you would have received at trial. However, if you accept the settlement for your accident injuries, you're giving up your right to appeal the decision.

If you do decide to take the insurance company's accident settlement offer, you should consider hiring a personal injury attorney to help negotiate the best possible deal. An experienced lawyer can help you understand how much you could potentially win at trial and advise you about whether accepting the insurance settlement is the best option for you.

What to Do When Offered a Settlement After an Injury

You should always get medical attention as soon as possible after being injured. This includes going to the hospital and seeing a doctor. A lot of people think they can just treat their injuries at home, but this is not true. There are many different types of injuries and most of these minor injuries even if they don't appear to be severe injuries often require immediate medical attention.

Insurance companies have a sense of urgency when trying to resolve personal injury settlement issues. If you have been offered a small amount of money to make things go away, then you should definitely consider hiring an attorney right away so you can get personalized attorney recommendations on the best way forward. Even though you may think you're getting off cheap, you could still end up paying thousands of dollars in legal fees. Accepting a low amount will cause you to, later on, go through financial stress and mental anguish when trying to cover medical bills caused by the accident.

When Should You Accept an Offer?

When you have been injured and need money to pay medical bills, you may want to accept an offer settlement. However, if you do not understand how much money you should get, you could end up getting less than what you deserve. Here are some things to consider before accepting an offer settlement.

How Much Money Do I Need? The first thing you need to know is how much money you need to cover your medical expenses as well as future medical costs. You should understand how much it will cost you to cater to your physical injuries, and psychological injuries, and figure out any additional costs that you may incur later on so you can take care of everything during a negotiation process. You may need to talk to a healthcare provider. An evaluation lets you know how fair compensation is. 

FAQ: Should I release my medical records to an insurance adjuster?

You also need to know how much your case is worth. To find out how much your case is valued, you can ask your attorney or go online to look up similar cases. Contact a local personal injury attorney who specializes in accident claims to get their opinion and evaluate the accident cost. One of the common mistake accident victims make is not consulting with an attorney so they can get a detailed car accident injury report.

If negotiations do not go as planned you can take the next step in the claim process is going to court so you can get maximum compensation. You can also choose to pursue a workers' compensation claim instead of filing a civil suit so you can get a fair settlement.

Can an Insurance Company Revoke an Offer?

An insurance company can revoke an offer if after sending an insurance company adjuster the insured party rejects the offer. However, the insurance carrier cannot sue the insured party unless the policy period expires. In addition, the insurance company cannot cancel the policy without giving notice to the insured party.

What if You Accept an Offer and it Does Not Cover All of Your Damages?

If you accept an offer that does not cover all of your damages, you should contact your insurance company immediately. If they refuse to pay, then you have two options. First, you could file a claim with your own insurance company. Second, you could file a lawsuit against the party who offered you the settlement.

insurance claim form, Should I Accept the Insurance Company's Settlement Offer

You have 30 days after receiving notice of the offer to decide whether or not you want to accept the settlement. If you choose to accept the settlement, you must sign a release before any money changes hands. Once you sign the release, you cannot sue the person who offered you the settlement anymore.

When you hire a personal injury lawyer to represent you in your case the attorney will work hard to ensure that you receive everything you deserve. They will negotiate with the defendant's attorney on the accident victim's behalf so they can get them the best settlement figure possible.

How an Attorney Can Help Ensure You Are Fairly Compensated

The first step in any personal injury case is filing a claim. When a person is injured due to the fault of another party, he or she should immediately contact a personal injury attorney. An attorney will then investigate the situation thoroughly and determine if a lawsuit is necessary. If a lawsuit is filed, the plaintiff will file a complaint with the court detailing his or her injuries and the damages suffered.

The party responsible for causing the accident will then respond to the complaint and defend themselves. At this point, the two parties will begin negotiating a settlement. Insurance settlement negotiations can take place either before or after the trial. If no agreement is reached after the insurance settlement negotiation process the matter then proceeds to trial.

Personal injury lawyers work closely with insurance companies to help them pay out settlements to their clients. Insurance companies often offer reduced amounts if the claimant agrees to sign a release. However, if the claimant does not agree to sign the release, the insurance company may try to force him or her to settle for less than what is owed. Personal injury lawyers can help claimants fight back against these tactics.

Related Content: Bluecross Blueshield of Illinois Claim Form

In addition to helping clients obtain financial compensation for their injuries, personal injury lawyers can provide emotional support. Many people who suffer serious injuries do not realize that they have rights until they consult with a lawyer. Once they learn about the options available for the personal injury claim, they may feel empowered to pursue justice.

An accident attorney from our accident law firm can help clients navigate the legal system and ensure that accident claimants get the insurance settlement offer they deserve after a motor vehicle accident.

If you are questioning whether you should accept the offer that the insurance company has offered you for personal injury damages you can consult with a personal injury attorney from the Ktenas Injury Lawyers law firm. We will act as your effective insurance claim representatives to protect you from aggressive insurance companies that will be trying to intimidate you through the process.  Book your free, no-obligation auto accident consultation today.

homesmartphonebubblecrossmenuarrow-rightcross-circlechevron-up-circle