After a car accident, you’re probably eagerly awaiting your settlement offer. Disappointment sets in, though, when the offer is far lower than you expected. You don’t have to accept this offer if it doesn’t sit right with you. A Missouri car accident lawyer can help you negotiate for more.
Below, you’ll learn:
How to handle a lowball settlement offer
Red flags that demonstrate the settlement offer is too low
Common causes of car crashes in St. Louis
What to Do If the Insurance Company Offers a Lowball Settlement
If your settlement offer doesn’t cover all your damages, the good news is that you don’t have to accept it. Here’s what to do:
Look over the policy you’re claiming against. The settlement offer may exclude something the policy should have covered.
Call the insurance adjuster and ask them why they offered you this amount. They should be able to give you clear reasons for what’s included and excluded.
Submit as much evidence to the insurance company as you can. Insurance adjusters need a full picture of the evidence to offer a fair settlement. If you took pictures at the accident scene or found video footage of the crash, that evidence could be compelling enough to boost your settlement offer.
Hire a Missouri car accident lawyer if the insurance company refuses to budge on your offer. Negotiating for more by yourself is possible, but you are likely to have better luck with an attorney fighting for you.
File a lawsuit for your car accident case if the insurance company still won’t negotiate. Sometimes, just threatening a lawsuit is enough to make the insurance company offer a higher amount. If not, your lawyer will be ready to fight the insurer in court.
How to Know If Your Settlement Offer Is Too Low
Sometimes, it’s not obvious whether your settlement offer is too low. Here are a few subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs the insurance company is lowballing you:
They use scare tactics to convince you to accept the settlement offer immediately. The adjuster might say, “We can rescind the offer anytime, so you don’t have long to decide.”
The offer comes surprisingly quickly. It usually takes at least a month for settlement offers to arrive. If yours comes faster, the adjuster could be trying to settle before they’ve fully reviewed your damages.
The adjuster says your injuries were pre-existing and unrelated to the accident.
They blame you for the accident even if the evidence says otherwise.
They don’t include non-economic damages in the offer — or they do include them, but the offer is still too low. Ask the adjuster about the multiplier they relied on to calculate non-economic damages and their justification for using it.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in St. Louis
Car accidents can have dozens of causes. The most common ones include the following:
Distracted driving
Driving under the influence
Bad weather
Poor road conditions
Aggressive driving and road rage
Regardless of what caused your accident, Missouri is an at-fault state. That means the driver responsible for the crash is liable for your damages.
We’ll Fight for a Fair Settlement for You
If the insurance company is lowballing you, and you’re unsure where to turn, let our law firm help. The Law Offices of Kevin J. Roach, LLC has proudly handled personal injury cases in Missouri for over 20 years. We’ll fight aggressively to win a fair settlement that covers all your damages.
