What Happens If You Don’t Accept a Settlement Offer from Insurance?

car insurance claim forms with a pen and money on a table

Written by The Barnes Firm, reviewed by Richard Barnes

Rich Barnes

President

The compensation you receive from an insurance company is vital in your road to recovery. You can use the funds to cover medical bills, property damage, and legal fees. The offer can come at any point during your case, but it may not be what you anticipated or need. Insurance companies usually won’t offer reasonable settlements without some effort on your side.

If you want fair compensation, you need a personal injury attorney negotiating on your behalf. They have the experience to obtain the funds you need to get your life back on track. If you reject a settlement offer from the insurance company, a few things may happen afterward. Keep these scenarios in mind before rejecting any offer.

Reject the First Offer and Keep Negotiating

It is reasonably safe to say that the first offer the insurance company presents will be low. Rejecting a low offer is very common. In fact, claims adjusters know when they give a low offer and expect you to decline it. This usually leads to ongoing negotiations with the company.

Rejecting the offer, however, is not as simple as demanding that your insurance company present you with more money. Instead, you have to write a formal letter rejecting the settlement. This letter should include why you need more money and a counter-offer based on your injuries and damages.

Negotiating is a lot of time-consuming work. Unless the insurer specifically says they will not negotiate any further, it’s a good strategy to keep counter-offering them. Continuing to counter-offer could result in you obtaining compensation closer to what you need to cover your accident-related expenses. However, it may ultimately require a legal claim to obtain the best result possible.

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Request a New Adjuster

While this is rare, the claims adjuster may refuse to negotiate after you reject their first offer. This is a tactic companies use to intimidate their clients. It creates a “take it or leave it” atmosphere, which can cause you to accept a settlement much lower than what you need.

They may even refuse to settle for an amount similar to other cases by twisting the facts of your claim. If this happens, your claims adjuster may be using bad-faith negotiation tactics. This conduct can lead to injured people accepting a low offer simply because they need the money or don’t want to argue with insurance companies.

Our best personal injury lawyers say you’re not powerless if this situation occurs; you’ll just have to change your tactics if you want proper compensation. Take notes of every interaction you have with them. Insurers are not allowed to take sides or draw conclusions about the case. If you catch them doing that, you should report it immediately. You can use it to your advantage by requesting a new adjuster who may be open to negotiations.

Take the Case to Court

The last scenario after rejecting an offer is to take your case to court. Before considering court, though, consult with your attorney. They can help determine whether you’d receive more money through a judge’s intervention. Keep in mind that this could backfire on you. A judge or jury may find the defendant (the party who caused your injuries) innocent, resulting in you receiving no compensation.

However, there is always the chance you may get more money than an insurance company would ever offer. Even so, there will be more fees deducted for court costs and other filing fees.

Reach Out to a Personal Injury Attorney at The Barnes Firm

If you or a loved one was injured in an accident because of someone else’s negligence, contact an experienced and trusted personal injury attorneys at The Barnes Firm. With more than 100 years of combined experience helping clients with their claims, you can be confident knowing that we will fight for you to obtain maximum compensation.

The Barnes Firm (800) 800-0000

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“As President of The Barnes Firm, I have dedicated my career to achieving justice in hundreds of cases for the victims of injuries caused through the fault of others. Additionally, I have been honored to have been elected Best Lawyer and a Super Lawyer”

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Personal Injury

What Happens If You Don’t Accept a Settlement Offer from the Insurance Company?

Rich Barnes