After sustaining an injury in an accident, you should make a claim with the appropriate insurance company. Should you accept the first offer they give you? In this guide, our Indiana injury claims lawyers share tips for maximizing your settlement and negotiating a better offer.
Insurers Often Make Low-Ball Offers To Save Money
Ask an Indiana injury compensation attorney about the tactics insurance companies use when offering settlements, and they’ll tell you that the first offer likely won’t cover the case’s full value. These companies don’t want to pay more than they have to. They often rely on victims being unaware of their case’s value and accepting a low-ball settlement, which may not include:
- The full cost of medical care
- Property damage
- Long-term emotional distress
The Case Can Evolve and Lead to Greater Damages
Before working with an accident claims lawyer, Indiana residents don’t usually think about the long-term effects of their injury. It’s wise to hire an Indiana injury claims lawyer to review all aspects of your case and negotiate for fair compensation.
What will you do if you require more medical treatment for your injury but have already accepted a settlement that won’t cover all the expenses? Does the insurer’s initial offer account for your emotional distress? You never know what costs may arise down the road, so team up with a seasoned Indiana bodily injury lawyer to make a fair counteroffer.
You Can’t Negotiate After Accepting a Payout
Imagine your insurance company offers you a $50,000 injury settlement, which you quickly accept. Out of curiosity, you consult an Indiana injury claims lawyer, who says you could have received $90,000 in damages. What can you do?
Unfortunately, you can’t negotiate a new amount once you accept a settlement. Therefore, it’s smart to explore your options before agreeing to any insurance offer.
Understand Your Potential Compensation and Remain Realistic
While personal injury settlement lawyers recommend rejecting an insurance company’s initial offer, you must have realistic expectations. The amount of damages you can recover depends on the extent of your injuries.
Victims with more severe injuries are likely to receive higher payouts, in general. Keep this in mind when seeking compensation, and don’t aim for an unrealistic amount. For example, someone seeking damages for a broken leg should expect a different settlement from someone who needs their leg amputated after an accident.
The Benefits of Working With an Indiana Injury Claims Lawyer
By working with an insurance claim lawyer, Indiana accident victims don’t have to handle the burden of dealing with difficult insurance companies. Personal injury attorneys understand the tactics these providers use to lowball victims and reduce the value of their case. Hiring legal counsel allows injured individuals to evaluate the real value of their cases.
Lawyers tackle important tasks like:
- Establishing liability: Determining liability is essential for maximizing one’s settlement, since Indiana recognizes comparative negligence in cases.
- Gathering evidence: Lawyers gather sufficient evidence to strengthen their client’s claim, such as police reports, medical records, and more.
- Negotiating a settlement: Professionals strategically negotiate with insurance providers to reach a fair settlement agreement.
- Representing the plaintiff in court: If neither party can agree to settle, the case will go to court. It’s up to the lawyer to present the case in trial for the jury to decide the outcome.
Consult Stewart & Stewart Attorneys for Assistance With Your Claim
You can’t go wrong with a qualified Indiana injury claims lawyer on your side. Team up with Stewart & Stewart Attorneys when you need help negotiating with insurance providers. We have years of experience and know how to advocate on your behalf.
Contact our firm at (800)-333-3529 to request a consultation.