Insurance companies often send low initial offers to settle with injured parties after a motor vehicle accident. However, what if the offer doesn’t even cover the medical treatment for your car accident injuries? You may need an experienced car accident attorney to help you seek compensation for the full value of your claim.

Was It Really a Lowball Offer?

Sometimes, an adjuster makes a low offer in good faith after thoroughly investigating your claim. However, it’s fairly common for an insurance company to make a lowball offer to avoid paying the full value of your claim. What are some signs to look for to determine that an adjuster made a lowball offer?

• The insurance company made the offer too soon to have performed a thorough investigation.
• The adjuster refuses to explain how they arrived at their offer.
• The adjuster ignored or didn’t thoroughly investigate evidence of damages.
• The insurance company claims you were partly or entirely at fault for your injuries.
• The adjuster calls to pressure you into accepting the offer before you have a chance to review it or seek legal advice.

If you were injured in a car accident and experienced any of these tactics after receiving a low offer from the insurance company, it’s time to speak with a car accident attorney.

Hire a Lawyer

Having an experienced attorney on your side as you seek compensation for medical treatment, lost wages, and intangible losses like pain and suffering can help you reach a fair settlement offer sooner than if you face the insurance company alone.

If you receive a lowball offer, contact the insurance company for more information about why the offer is so low. Your attorney can help you gather more evidence for your claim, calculate damages for a counteroffer, and even file your claim in court if the insurance company still refuses to budge.

Request a Detailed Explanation for the Offer From the Adjuster

The first step in making a counteroffer after receiving a lowball settlement offer is to get an explanation from the adjuster about why the offer is so low. Did you fail to file critical evidence for your claim? Did the adjuster rush their investigation? Is the adjuster claiming your medical treatment falls outside of the policy coverage?

The insurance company may also claim the offer was low because it believes you contributed to the accident that caused your injuries and reduced the settlement by the amount it believes you to be at fault.

Calculate Your Damages

Your attorney can help you determine not only your economic damages for medical bills, future medical treatment, and lost wages but also your non-economic damages for pain and suffering, diminished quality of life, or mental anguish.

Connecticut usually uses a multiplier whereby the victim multiplies economic damages by a factor of between one and five for the amount to request non-economic damages in their case.

Write a Counter Offer

Your attorney can help you write a counteroffer with a fair settlement amount and supporting documentation for submitting your claim to the insurance company. Be aware that it could take a few counter offers to reach an agreement with the insurance company, and you may need to file a lawsuit to seek an acceptable settlement.

Contact Our Injury Law Firm for a Car Accident Case in Connecticut

If you received a lowball offer or need to file a car accident case in court, reach out to the Law Offices of James A. Welcome. Call us today at (475) 241-0824 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a car accident attorney in Connecticut.