Car accidents are scary, and the aftermath is often overwhelming. If you were injured, how many of your medical bills will be covered by your insurance and how many will be paid out of pocket? What if you have to take time off work? Was your car repairable or totaled, and how much did you have to pay to be able to have reliable transportation again? Questions a car accident lawyer from a law firm like Tuttle Law, P.A would want you to ask yourself when deciding to settle in a car accident case.
Usually, an insurance company will offer to settle your case to avoid going to the courts. This is beneficial for everyone. The insurance company doesn’t want to risk having to pay more, and you don’t want to risk losing your case and needing to pay for legal expenses on top of everything else. Still, you may be wondering if it is wise to accept a settlement in your car accident case. Here are three things to consider.
When you receive a settlement offer from the insurance company, you aren’t under any obligation to accept it. Consider how much money is being offered against the costs that you’ve incurred as a result of the incident. Be realistic about the number you’re willing to accept. It’s unwise to be a stickler about getting as much money as possible. Don’t look at this as a get-rich-quick opportunity; rather, have a realistic range that you would be willing to accept based on the documented expenses you have.
You understand that settling a car accident case can take time: The more involved the event, the longer an investigation takes. However, you need to access the insurance money to get your life back in order. If your case is relatively recent, you may be willing to put in the energy to undergo negotiations. On the other hand, if things have been dragging on, it may be worth it for your mental health to reconsider the settlement offer.
Even if your car accident case seems straightforward, it’s wise to have input from a car accident lawyer. There are so many ins and outs of insurance policies, documents, and laws to keep track of that it’s helpful to have experienced counsel on your side. Seek the advice of your lawyer when you’ve been offered a settlement and trust them to negotiate on your behalf. If the offer seems low, ask them about their reasoning before you reject the offer.
Trying to obtain financial compensation after a car accident can be a long and difficult process. Talk to a car accident lawyer to determine the course of action that will meet your needs fully and quickly.
