Vehicle crashes can be devastating, inconvenient and disorientating. All you may want to do is get the treatment you need and get back on with your life as soon as possible, and as best you can.
Hence, it can be tempting to jump at an early settlement offer from an insurer. Yet, this could be a grave mistake. Here is why.
You might not understand the full extent of your injuries yet
It’s two days after the crash, and you are feeling slightly better. When the insurer offers ten thousand dollars, you are tempted to go for it. You believe that you could repair your car, cover the cost of a week off work, and then have a big sum over to help you pay down your credit card debt.
The problem is that some injuries do not show many outward signs straightaway. A traumatic brain injury, for example, might start off just feeling like a concussion. It could be weeks before you realize the full seriousness of it and how it will affect your life. Even less serious injuries can sometimes prove more consequential and costly than first thought.
Early offers are usually lowball offers
Insurers are in business to turn a profit, and one of the ways they do this is by trying to get injured people to accept offers far below what they could receive if a court were to rule on the matter. Even if you would rather not have to go to court, holding out could still get you a much higher sum. If your injuries are worse than you realize, you are going to need it, too.
Don’t try and deal with an insurer yourself because they have far more experience at this than you. Consider legal guidance from someone who can help you avoid mistakes and pursue the compensation you deserve.