Negotiating With the Insurance Company After an Auto Accident
Florida is a no-fault state, under the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law. Therefore, after an auto accident, your insurance company owes you compensation regardless of who is at fault. Under the No-fault law, you require to have Personal Injury Protection Insurance (PIP) as part of your automobile insurance plans. However, suppose you are involved in an accident that leaves you with injuries that your PIP insurance cannot cover. In that case, you might have to negotiate with your insurance company and that of the other driver as well.
Unfortunately, even though your insurance company owes you compensation after an auto accident, obtaining the compensation you deserve is not an easy task. You have to engage in negotiations with the insurance company. Negotiating with the other driver’s insurance company in a situation where you obtain severe injuries that your insurance policy cannot cover is even more challenging.
Therefore, you need the help of a qualified attorney when negotiating with an insurance company after an auto accident. You also need to learn some crucial tips, which can assist you after an auto accident.
Here are some tips for you if you are preparing to negotiate with an insurance company after an auto accident.
Tip 1: Seek the Help of an Attorney
You might lack the negotiation skills you require to convince the insurance company to offer you fair compensation, but attorneys possess these skills. After seeking medical help immediately after an accident, the next step you need to take is to consult an auto accident attorney to assist you with the negotiation process. Insurance adjusters can be tough to deal with, especially on your own. If you do not present adequate and accurate information, they may give you unfair compensation or decide that you deserve no compensation.
An attorney can also help you avoid insurance adjusters’ tricks. For example, some of these individuals convince accident victims to enter a negotiation before receiving medical treatment to avoid paying for medical expenses. Without the help of an attorney, you might fall for such a trick.
Tip 2: Avoid Rushing Into Settlements and Take Time Estimating Damages
After an auto accident, you might experience mixed feelings, and sometimes you might act out of impulse. You should avoid allowing your anger, for example, to cause you to rush into the negotiation process before you heal or at least before your health improves. You want to wait until you can accurately estimate damages. For example, if you decide to begin the negotiations before you heal or experience some recovery, the insurance company may not take care of some medical bills. You also want to accurately calculate the suffering and pain you endured before you start the negotiations.
If you follow the first tip and work with an attorney, they can help you calculate the extent of your pain and suffering based on the medical bills. In case you lost your wages after the accident, the attorney will use that to estimate damages. Additionally, you cannot assess damages for yourself if you do not fully understand your case’s specifications, and for that reason, you need a qualified attorney.
Tip 3: Beware of Low Initial Settlement Offers and Say No To Them
Insurance companies work to make profits, just like any other business. Therefore, the chances are that you will always receive a low initial offer. Even after your attorney determines your case’s value, the insurance company might still offer you a settlement that does not match your case’s full value. In such a scenario, an attorney will help you by arguing on your behalf. You need to convince the insurance company that the accident affected your life tremendously; therefore, you deserve more compensation than what they are offering. An attorney can successfully help you convince the insurance company to provide better counteroffers.
Tip 4: Prepare a Demand Letter and Review the Counter Offers That Will Follow
It is also vital for you to prepare and submit a demand letter detailing all the expenses you incurred after the accident. In the letter, you will also include testimonies from witnesses who can attest that the accident negatively affected your life. Once you submit the letter, the insurance company might present you with other offers. In case the counter offers presented are still low, your attorney can advise you on the next best step.
Avoid negotiating with an insurance company without an attorney’s help or at least before receiving approval and much-needed advice from one.
Contact a Naples Auto Accident Attorney for Assistance Today
For more information, contact The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A. at 239-649-8050. Our Naples auto accident attorneys are eager to assist you today.
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