2 Tips For Dealing With Insurance Companies Following Your Accident

Law Blog

Suffering a major accident can have long-lasting financial, emotional and medical ramifications for a person. Insurance is a common form of protection against the liabilities of causing another person to suffer injuries as a result of an accident, but getting an acceptable offer from the insurance company can be a difficult task. To this end, you should consider the following tips following your accident to help you be in the best position possible for making sound choices through this ordeal.  

List Your Expenses And Losses

Following an accident, the insurance company will likely contact you relatively quickly. This should not be surprising as they are likely attempting to settle the case before you hire an attorney. Unfortunately, you may not have any idea of what a fair offer would be if you have not seriously considered the losses that you have incurred. As a result, you should create a detailed list of the expenses that you have suffered. When making the list, be sure to include costs that were also indirectly related to the accident. For example, missing a bonus from work absences or fuel costs for seeking treatment are indirect expenses that you should consider. By including these expenses in your list, you will be better able to know what type of offers you are looking to receive from the insurance.

Request An Itemized Settlement Offer

Unfortunately, insurance companies can make extremely low initial offers to accident victims. This is often done in an attempt to lower expenses for the insurer. If the initial offer from the insurance seems particularly low and unfair to you, it is possible to request an itemized copy of the settlement offer. This will help you to better understand the justification for the low offer.

If the itemized settlement offer shows that you are not being fully compensated for your losses, it may be advisable to seek professional legal representation. An experienced attorney will be better able to gauge the legal value of your claims, which can help you to determine whether or not legal action is worth pursuing.

If you have been injured as a result of another person's actions or negligence, it is important to understand the importance of creating a list of your various expenses from the accident and requesting an itemized copy of the settlement offer to make sure that you are in the best position possible to ensure your rights are protected in these matters.

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