My Insurance Company Gave Me a Lowball Offer, What Can I Do?
When you suffer an injury due to the negligence of another party, the last thing you need is a stingy insurance adjuster. Unfortunately, it’s the job of insurance adjusters to save their company money, not pay you. This is why so many personal injury cases begin with lowball insurance offers.
If you were recently injured and found yourself disappointed with the insurance settlement offer, don’t give up. Learn about your options to appeal lowball offers from insurance companies in injury cases, including:
- Slips and fall accidents
- Trucking accidents
- Car accidents
- Medical malpractice
What to Do When the Insurance Company Sends a Lowball Offer: The Dos and Don’ts
Insurance adjusters offer you the least amount of compensation they can. If you’re unfamiliar with personal injury cases, you may find yourself easily persuaded by these offers. They may sound like a lot of money at first, but when you step back to look at the damage, the numbers don’t add up.
Here’s what you can do when the insurance company sends a lowball offer.
Don’t Say Yes Immediately
An insurance adjuster will contact you very soon after your accident. They do this to give you an offer before you’ve even assessed the extent of your injuries.
You may need ongoing treatment or could discover that an injury is worse than you initially thought. Once you accept a settlement from the insurance company, you cannot negotiate for more. When you review this initial offer, tell the insurance adjuster you are not ready to accept and need to speak with your attorney.
Do Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
You’ve probably never dealt with a personal injury case, and the insurance adjuster knows this. They can take advantage of this knowledge and their own experience. However, a Florida personal injury attorney will have years of experience with insurance claims and cases similar to yours. They know what tactics to expect from insurance adjusters and how to negotiate with them.
If necessary, an attorney can help you seek compensation another way, like through a lawsuit.
Don’t Undervalue Your Claim
Before you can determine if the insurance’s offer is fair, you need to assess the full value of your claim. You can pursue both economic and non-economic damages. While economic damages account for tangible losses like medical bills and ongoing medical treatment, non-economic damages account for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental distress.
Do Recognize Red Flags
When you’re speaking with an insurance adjuster, look out for these red flags:
- The adjuster ignores or downplays your injuries
- They haven’t thoroughly investigated the claim
- They won’t answer your questions about specific numbers
- They aren’t taking non-economic damages under consideration
If your insurance adjuster does any of these things, contact a Florida personal injury attorney immediately.
Don’t Take the Blame
Your insurance adjuster may try to convince you you’re partially, or even entirely, at fault for your injury. They want you to admit to this so they can limit the compensation they offer. Similarly, they may pressure you by telling you if you don’t accept, the offer will be off the table. Don’t give in to these tactics, and talk to your attorney instead.
Your attorney can help you collect evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and file a personal injury claim if necessary.
Contact a Skilled Personal Injury Attorney To Seek Fair Compensation
When your insurance company sends you a lowball offer, you have other options. To negotiate with your insurance company or pursue other methods of compensation, contact a Florida personal injury attorney at The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A. Contact us at 239-500-5000 or fill out our contact form to start.
