Car Accidents: Don’t Take the Insurance Company’s First Settlement Offer

After a car accident, you may be left with injuries that require medical treatment, time off of work and more. After filing a claim for compensation, the insurance company may come back with a promising initial settlement offer. We recommend considering your options before accepting it.

Understanding the Hidden Costs of Your Car Accident

Insurance companies want to settle your car accident claim quickly and with the least amount of financial loss. This means they’ll often give you an offer without fully understanding the severity of your claim. In fact, the cost of your injuries may be far-reaching and unknown even to you.

For example, you may need to pay for physical therapy for the next year or more. You may also need to miss out on work for several weeks or even months so you can heal properly. Other examples of hidden costs may include:

• Rental vehicles while your vehicle undergoes repair
• Medications and medical testing required for proper healing
• Hiring household assistance such as cooking and cleaning due to disability
• Travel to and from medical treatments and care

Your Insurance Company’s First Offer Isn’t the Best

Insurance companies often take your medical bills and injuries at face value, instead of digging deeper into the true cost of your accident. As a result, the offer you receive may not be nearly enough in the long-term. Unfortunately, if you settle now, you won’t be able to collect it later.

An Experienced Car Accident Attorney Can Help With Negotiations

If there’s a significant gap between what you forecast your bills to be and what the insurance company offers initially, we recommend reaching out to a car accident attorney for help. Your attorney will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Car Accident? Call Ted B. Lyon Today for Help.

The attorneys at Ted B. Lyon & Associates have years of experience securing the necessary compensation for victims of car accidents. If you’ve been injured, don’t shortchange yourself. Instead, reach out to us for help. To learn more about the hidden costs of your accident, send us a message.