If you’ve been involved in a car wreck through no fault of your own and you have medical expenses and other damages, you might submit a claim to the insurance company for the at-fault driver. However, the insurance company may offer you a “low-ball” offer, meaning, an offer significantly below the value of your claim. The insurance company does this because it knows if you accept a low offer, and waive your right for future compensation, it will save them a lot of money.

Sometimes, an insurance company might even make you an early offer shortly after the accident. Accept an early settlement offer at your own peril! It is unwise to accept an early offer from the insurance company and waive your rights for future compensation because you do not know the extent of your injuries immediately after an accident. You usually will not know how bad you are hurt in an accident until you are finished with treatment. If you accept an early offer you may not have enough money at the end of your treatment to pay your medical bills. An experienced car accident attorney will advise you NOT to take an early settlement but wait until your injuries have all been properly diagnosed and treated.

Once you have completed treatment, you will want to send the insurance company a comprehensive settlement demand with all of your medical records and bills included, so the insurance company can consider all of your injuries when evaluating the claim. However, even if you send the insurance company a comprehensive settlement demand, they may refuse to make a reasonable settlement offer. If the insurance company does not give you fair value for your injuries and ALL of your damages, that does not mean that you should give up. An experienced auto accident injury attorney may advise you to consider filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party.