If you’re involved in a motor vehicle accident in Council Bluffs and make a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, your first assumption may be that the insurance company will offer you a fair settlement amount. However, assuming that an insurance company will offer you what you deserve is ignorant. Insurance companies notoriously attempt to pay unreasonably low settlements to injured parties.
The Initial Settlement Offer
When the insurance company extends an initial settlement offer, you should thoroughly review it. While you should not immediately reject the offer, you should be skeptical of the fact that initial settlement offers are often nominal. Insurance companies frequently offer claimants very little, hoping that desperate injured parties will accept the offer because of financial reasons and exhaustion with the claims process.
We strongly recommend that you consult with an attorney before you accept any initial settlement offer from an insurance company.
What You’re Looking for in a Settlement Offer
You may be unsure of exactly what you’re looking for in a settlement offer from your insurance company. Essentially, the settlement offer should consider the total value of damages that you’ve suffered, including compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and any other special or general damages. The overall settlement may be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault.
Rejecting a Settlement Offer
Assuming that the insurance company’s initial settlement offer does not fully compensate you for your losses, you maintain the right to reject this settlement offer and demand a larger amount. We understand that negotiating with insurance companies can be intimidating, which is why our lawyers will provide you with the legal support that you need and will gladly manage all elements of the settlement negotiations process on your behalf.
You have the right to reject a settlement offer as many times as it takes to get a fair value; if no such offer is made, you have the right to file a lawsuit. In the event the insurance company fails to tender any reasonable offer, you must file a lawsuit within two years from the date of your injury that occurred in Iowa to preserve your claim for damages.
Our Lawyers Are Here to Represent You
When you are harmed in an accident, especially one that occurs through no fault of your own, you deserve to be fully compensated for any damages you suffer. Unfortunately, you cannot always rely on an insurance company to fairly compensate you; instead, you often have to fight for the settlement that you deserve.
At Telpner Peterson Law Firm, LLP, our Council Bluffs car accident attorneys have significant experience negotiating with insurance companies and know how to get our clients the settlements they deserve. If you’ve been injured in an accident, please call our law office today for a free consultation and to learn more about what we can do for you.
Our legal team is available to talk now – send us a message online or call our law office directly.