Negotiating with an insurance company is unfamiliar territory for most people. However, following a truck accident, it is likely that an insurance adjuster will be the first person you talk to about your case.
We will offer some tips for negotiating with the insurance company. If this is your first time, you should know that the adjuster is likely someone who has been well-trained in negotiation. To further complicate matters, the insurance adjuster is usually not interested in a fair or even an honest resolution of your claim. They are simply looking for a quick settlement in order to save money and close the case.
If you or a family member were one of the approximately 155,000 people hurt in United States truck accidents in 2021, you may also want to consider hiring experienced counsel to help. At Burg Simpson, our trusted attorneys have many years of experience negotiating with the insurance company. We make sure that your rights are protected and that the adjuster will not take advantage of you.
An insurance adjuster is simply a person hired by the insurance company to resolve claims on its behalf. Companies have adjusters who work at different levels of claims. For instance, a newer adjuster may be assigned to claims worth a relatively small amount, while a more experienced adjuster will be given higher-value claims.
In the case of a truck accident, the claim is typically going to involve high dollar figures based on the severity of the injuries involved. This means that the adjuster is likely to be experienced and well-versed in negotiation tactics.
Many injured victims mistakenly assume that the adjuster will be fair to them because they were hurt in an accident. While this may have been true many years ago, it is certainly not the case today. In today’s environment, an insurance company is primarily interested in how little they can offer to settle the claim. The adjuster may even try to deny liability altogether and place the blame for the crash on the injured victim.
If you go into a negotiation assuming that the adjuster is trying to work against you, you will be better prepared to carefully evaluate the statements and offers that they make.
As a rule of thumb, the first offer from the insurance company should almost never be accepted. Unless the offer is for the full amount of the trucking company’s policy limits, it should be looked at skeptically by injured victims. When an adjuster makes the first offer, it may seem enticing. You may even be tempted to accept it just to get the case over with.
However, many injured victims fail to consider that they will have future medical treatment. The first offer may not take into account future bills. Further, it may not fully compensate victims for their pain and suffering, lost wages, and more. The worst news is that once you sign a settlement, you cannot go back and change your mind later. The settlement will include a waiver of rights meaning that it is final once it is signed.
Victims should think carefully about accepting the first offer. If there are any questions, it is best to consult with an experienced national truck accident lawyer before going any further.
Since the adjuster is often an experienced and highly skilled or trained negotiator, it is important to be prepared when entering negotiations. This means having all documentation of your damages in an organized and understandable format. Victims should have all of their medical bills and records available for review, along with any police reports, photographs from the scene, witness statements, and more.
Having a well-organized approach to the negotiation ensures that you remain in control. If you are sloppy or disorganized, the adjuster will control the conversation, and you are not likely to receive anything approaching a fair offer.
Before you come up with a settlement number, you must know the value of your case. While this is a task that is better left to an experienced attorney, the following items are relevant to the value of a truck accident claim:
Using your available evidence of losses, you should then come up with a fair number for what you believed that your case is worth. There is no hard and fast rule regarding case value, and each case must be treated on an individual basis. When you present your number to the insurance company, you should be prepared for a counteroffer.
Having a range of acceptable numbers is the best way to handle negotiations. If the adjuster meets your range, you should consider accepting the offer, especially if you’ve already spoken to an attorney and received advice. You should know your bottom line and when to walk away. Knowing when to exit the negotiation is a skill and strategy that is honed by many years of experience dealing with insurance companies.
If you are unsure about the value of your claim or what your bottom line should be, you should immediately contact a national truck accident lawyer for help. At Burg Simpson, our attorneys routinely engage in negotiations to get the best deals for our clients. We will put our skills and experience to work for you.
If you have been affected by a truck accident nationwide, you could have a claim for compensation. Your ultimate settlement depends upon a variety of factors. However, a major factor is your ability, or your attorney’s ability, to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company.
Negotiation is a fine art and a skill that is not easily learned. However, using the tips above will put you ahead of the game when talking to an adjuster.
If you run into a difficult situation or simply prefer to have an attorney by your side, we can help. At Burg Simpson, we take the stress and uncertainty away in order to help our clients receive the compensation that they deserve. To speak with a nationwide truck accident attorney, please contact us using our online intake form or give us a call at (888) 895-2080.