Hurt in a car crash in South Carolina? You need full and fair financial compensation for your damages. This raises an important question: Should you accept the insurance company’s initial settlement offer? The short answer is “no”—insurers rarely lead with their best offer. You have the right to negotiate for additional compensation. Here, our Columbia auto accident attorney explains why you should never accept the first settlement offer after a crash in South Carolina.
Background: Few Car Accident Injury Claims Go to Trial
Your car accident injury case is far more likely to be resolved through an insurance settlement rather than a verdict. Fewer than five percent of tort cases are resolved through verdicts (Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)). As a motor vehicle crash claim is far more likely to be settled than to go through a trial, you must be able to get the maximum compensation.
Insurance Companies Rarely Lead With a Best and Final Settlement Offer
Generally, you should not accept the first offer from an insurance company. Indeed, you must take a patient approach to the car accident injury claims process. Insurance companies rarely present their best and final offer initially. Instead, the initial proposal often serves as a starting point for negotiations. Insurance companies are looking to minimize the payout to the injured victim. This has big implications for your case. By accepting the first offer, you may miss out on a more substantial settlement that properly covers your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. Remember, insurance adjusters expect negotiation for car accident victims.
Four Tips to Navigate Settlement Negotiations With Insurance Adjusters
Tip #1: Know the Role of the Insurance Adjuster
First and foremost, you must understand the role of insurance adjusters in settlement negotiations. Here is the fundamental point to remember: Insurance adjusters are employed by the company. It is their job to evaluate the claim and then start a process that minimizes the amount paid out. Insurance adjusters are trained to come across as friendly and disarming in phone conversations with car accident victims. It is a strategy. They are skilled negotiators who work at the insurance company to protect the corporation’s financial interests. Their job is not to offer you the maximum compensation you deserve. With that in mind, remember that their initial settlement offer is typically not their best. They expect some negotiation.
Tip #2: Never Admit Fault or Downplay Your Damages
Car accident compensation is determined based on a wide range of different factors. With that being said, two big issues are the most important: 1) Liability and 2) Damages. During negotiations, it is important never to admit fault or downplay your injuries and damages. Statements made in the heat of the moment can be used against you. What you say could potentially diminish the value of your claim. You should focus on providing factual answers and avoid speculative or absolute statements about the accident or your injuries. You do not want to give an insurance company any statements that could be used to justify their low settlement offer.
Tip #3: Be Patient (You Can Negotiate for Additional Compensation)
The insurance settlement process takes time—especially after a serious crash. Patience is key when negotiating with insurance adjusters. It is a very natural and understandable impulse to want to get through the claims process as quickly as possible. Most people want to put the accident behind them. However, rushing to accept the first settlement offer can lead to seriously undervalued compensation. As initial offers are rarely the best, taking your time allows you to gather all necessary documentation of your injuries, damages, and other losses.
Tip #4: Work Through a South Carolina Auto Accident Lawyer
You do not have to take on the insurance claims process alone after a serious motor vehicle collision. Indeed, managing settlement negotiations is complex. It can be downright overwhelming when you are recovering from an accident. Working with a top-tier South Carolina auto accident lawyer can significantly improve your chance of securing a full and fair settlement. Your attorney will be able to understand the nuances of the claims process and the best strategies to counter a low-ball settlement offer. Your attorney will take aggressive legal action to help you seek a settlement that reflects the true cost of your case. Do not settle your car accident claim for less.
Compensation You Can Seek in a Car Accident Settlement
In South Carolina, injured victims have the right to seek compensation for the full value of their economic/non-economic losses. Your settlement offer should cover the full range of damages that you sustained in the accident. Our Columbia, SC car accident lawyer helps injured victims negotiate for the maximum insurance settlement, including for:
- Vehicle repairs;
- Emergency room care;
- Hospital bills;
- Medical expenses;
- Physical therapy;
- Loss of wages;
- Diminished earnings;
- Pain and suffering;
- Long-term disability;
- Loss of quality of life; and
- Wrongful death.
How Our South Carolina Auto Accident Lawyer Can Help You With Settlement Negotiations
Settlement negotiations for a car accident injury claim are complicated. You do not have to take on an insurance company alone. Remember, you should not accept that first offer. It is rarely the best and final offer—especially after a serious crash. You have the right to negotiate for additional financial compensation. Christopher R. Hart is a South Carolina auto accident lawyer with the skills, experience, and tenacity to help negotiate for the maximum settlement after a bad collision.
Contact Our Columbia, SC Car Crash Lawyer for a Free Case Review
At Hart Law, our Columbia auto accident attorney is committed to fighting for justice. If you have any questions or concerns about settlement negotiations, we are here to help. Call us now or contact us online today for your free, no-obligation case review. With a legal office in Columbia, our team represents car crash victims throughout the surrounding area in South Carolina.