Thursday, October 22, 2015

Should I Accept a Settlement Claim from an Insurance Company?



Following a car accident, you are entitled to be compensated for your injuries by your insurance company whether or not you were at fault under Pennsylvania's no-fault insurance laws.1 If you pay your premiums, you should be able to trust that your own insurance company will have you best interests in mind and will provide adequate compensation for your medical bills and other losses. Unfortunately, the business model of many insurance companies depends upon limiting liability whenever possible and this often means paying injured policyholders less than they deserve.

Know the true value of your insurance claim
Too many auto accident victims submit a claim and then wait for the insurance company to tell them what their claim is worth. However, most major insurance companies now use software to determine a settlement offer, so a real person is not even reviewing your losses. Additionally, this software can often be manipulated to purposely lower settlement offers2 for bodily injury whenever possible. For this reason, you should never simply trust the insurance adjuster's assessment of your claim.

For example, many initial offers are solely based on your already-incurred medical expenses and may not take into consideration necessary future treatments. If you unknowingly accept a settlement offer that is too low, you cannot go back and make additional claims for future complications or treatment arising from the same accident. Instead, all past and future treatment costs should be taken into consideration when you are considering a settlement, as well as past and future lost income and other losses.

Accepting a settlement offer is not your only option. Instead, you can negotiate with your insurance for a higher payout or bring a claim against the party who caused your accident. You should always discuss your legal rights and options with a qualified auto accident attorney.

Discuss your case with an experienced Philadelphia auto accident lawyer
Before you accept any type of settlement offer from an insurance company, you should always consult with a qualified Philadelphia car accident lawyer who knows how to determine the true value of your claim. At The Levin Firm, consultations are always free, so there is nothing to lose by calling 215-25-5183 to schedule an appointment to discuss your accident today.



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