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Can I Hire an Attorney After I Receive a Settlement Offer?

Jan 25, 2023 | Personal Injury

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Indiana Personal Injury Attorney | Stewart & Stewart

When you receive a personal injury settlement offer from an insurance company, how do you know if it’s a good offer? Is it too late to hire a personal injury lawyer for your claim? Do you need to work with an attorney from the time you first file a personal injury claim?

The attorneys at Stewart & Stewart in Carmel, IN answer some of the most common questions they receive about when to accept a settlement offer in the process of a personal injury claim. Read more about why you should hire an experienced personal injury attorney as an injured person dealing with an insurance company.

Yes, You Can Hire a Personal Injury Attorney After You Receive a Settlement Offer

You can hire an attorney at any time during a personal injury claim, including after you receive a personal injury settlement offer from the insurance company. However, the sooner you bring in an attorney to review your claim, the more likely the attorney can help you build a case if you need to file a suit against the negligent party that caused your injuries.

Personal injury attorneys can gather evidence for your claim and help prove that you were not responsible for your injuries. Over time, the evidence from an accident disappears. If you aren’t happy with a settlement offer made a year after an accident, very little evidence may still exist for an attorney to find. Additionally, you risk taking too long to file a suit within the statute of limitations.

Hire an Attorney Before Accepting an Offer for Your Personal Injury Claim

The insurance adjuster managing your claim has one goal, which is to save the insurance company money on claims. Denials and underpayments are common methods adjusters use, and most settlement offers don’t reflect the true value of a personal injury claim. An experienced personal injury lawyer can review your medical bills and other costs associated with your injuries to compare to the offer.

Is It a Reasonable Offer?

A good personal injury settlement offer will include costs not just for existing medical bills and lost wages, but also for future decreases in earning potential and ongoing medical costs for your injuries and rehabilitation.

Having an attorney review your accident claim to determine the true cost of your injuries is essential to learn if your settlement offer covers the actual value of your injuries.

Do You Have a Case for Your Claim?

If your offer doesn’t cover all your current or future medical bills, lost wages from time off work, or transportation costs to get to your appointments, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the negligent party who caused your injuries. The insurance company will represent their client, making it important for you to have an experienced personal injury attorney on your side.

What a Suitable Settlement Offer Includes

A reasonable offer will cover your costs and future expenses for:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Diminished earnings
  • Transportation to medical appointments
  • Counseling for mental health and trauma treatment
  • Loss of quality of life
  • Pain and suffering

Contact The Law Offices of Stewart & Stewart to Review Your Indiana Settlement Offer

Don’t accept a personal injury settlement offer until you have an attorney review your claim. Once you accept an offer and close a claim, you won’t be able to reopen your case. At The Law Offices of Stewart & Stewart in Carmel, IN, we have over 40 years of experience representing injured people. Call us today at 800-33-33-LAW or contact us online to schedule a free consultation for your case.

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If you have been involved in an Indiana personal injury accident, contact us at Stewart & Stewart Attorneys. Our Indiana personal injury lawyers represent victims throughout the state, including Carmel and Anderson. We have also successfully advocated for clients throughout the area, including Fort Wayne, Gary, Indianapolis, South Bend. Complete a free online consultation form or call us at (800) 33-33-LAW!

Stewart & Stewart Attorneys have the knowledge and experience to defend your rights in the following areas of Indiana injury law: auto accident, brain injury, drug injury, defective product, fire and burn injury, insurance dispute, medical malpractice, motorcycle accident, nursing home abuse, slip and fall,  truck accident, workers’ compensation and wrongful death.