If you’ve ever been involved in a personal injury case, you may have experienced the frustration of receiving an initial settlement offer from the insurance company that is significantly lower than what you believe your case is worth. This can be confusing and overwhelming, especially when you’re already dealing with the physical and emotional aftermath of an injury. But why is it that insurance companies seem to lowball settlement offers?
There are a few reasons why an initial settlement offer from an insurance company might be so much lower than a settlement negotiated by a personal injury attorney.
How Insurance Companies Lowball Offers
Insurance Companies want to pay out as little as possible:
Insurance companies are businesses, and their primary goal is to make money. That means paying out as little as possible on claims. They have a team of adjusters and lawyers whose job it is to evaluate claims and negotiate settlements. These professionals are trained to find ways to minimize the amount of money the insurance company has to pay out.
They’re hoping you’ll settle quickly:
Insurance companies know that the longer a case goes on, the more it will cost them in legal fees and other expenses. They may make a low initial settlement offer in the hopes that you’ll accept.
Picture this scenario: You’re involved in an accident. No matter how severe. And you have pain, injuries, or emotional distress. But, you also have a job to go to, a family to take care of, and yourself to think about. No one would blame you for taking the first offer. Afterall, you don’t want to or have the time to take on a negotiation for a higher and more just settlement. But, that’s exactly why we’re able to negotiate a better final outcome. We do have the time. And we make time for our clients because we know they need to cover the expenses someone else causee.
Don’t fall for their bad tactics!
After an accident, you may be in a vulnerable position. You might be dealing with medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses related to your injury. Insurance companies know this and may try to take advantage of your vulnerability by offering a low settlement amount in the hopes that you’ll accept it out of desperation.
Why contact Joudeh & Kuller LLP?
Ramy Joudeh and Brett Kuller successfully negotiate higher settlements for their clients. Recently, they were able to get their clients $750,000 for a car accident injury. Initially, the insurance company was not going to pay our client. However, through careful negotiations and the proper litigation, on the eve of trial they agreed to settle. This is not the first time our attorneys have successfully negotiated a higher settlement for our injured clients.