Should I Accept a Settlement Offer from the Insurance Company?
If you’ve been injured by someone else’s negligence, you can face serious physical, financial, and emotional losses, and if you don’t receive fair compensation, it can interfere with your ability to fully recover. If the involved insurance company has made you an offer, it may feel like a lifeline, but if you don’t have an experienced Florida personal injury attorney in your corner, the settlement may not come anywhere near covering your full range of losses.
The Insurance Company
While the other party’s insurance company is paid specifically to cover your losses in a personal injury claim, they are also in the business of turning massive profits, and they manage to accomplish this by keeping settlements low. An early settlement offer, for example, is often an attempt to finalize a claim before the claimant realizes the toll the accident has taken on their life and before they have skilled legal representation in their corner. The insurance company’s primary goal is paying you less, which makes it in your best interest not to accept a settlement offer before you’ve discussed the matter with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney who is up to speed regarding your claim.
Your Losses
In your personal injury claim, you can seek compensation for specific losses you experience, and an important component of your claim is ensuring that these losses are well-represented and fully accounted for. For example, if you suffered an injury due to a distracted or drunk driver in a car accident, you can seek compensation in each of the following categories:
- Property damage to your car
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering, which can easily outpace all of your other losses combined
Accepting a settlement before you’re certain that all your losses are covered is a mistake. If you’re considering a settlement offer, it’s time to consult with a trusted personal injury attorney.
Proving Your Covered Losses
Obtaining just compensation comes down to proving the extent of your covered losses, which your attorney will achieve through skilled evidence gathering. The kind of evidence that is likely to play an important role includes all the following:
- Your medical bills
- Your doctor’s report regarding your condition and health prognosis
- Any reports generated by medical specialists who are treating you
- The testimony of professionals with expertise related to your injuries
- Your account of how your life has been affected by the accident in question and the accounts of those who know you well
Seek the Guidance of an Experienced Florida Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you’ve been injured by someone else’s negligence, you may have no idea how best to proceed, and the insurance company that is handling your claim is well aware of your predicament. The good news is that you are not alone – the savvy Florida personal injury lawyers at Matthews Injury Law are standing by to help you. We have the experience and legal skills to help ensure an optimal outcome for you, and we welcome the opportunity to do so. Learn more by contacting us online or calling 813-530-1000 today.