How To Negotiate A Car Accident Claim

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Following a car accident, you will likely have to deal with insurance companies. These companies are trained to offer you a lowball offer in hopes that you accept it without negotiation. These offers, however, may not be enough to pay for your physical injuries, emotional distress, or property damage.

If you have been involved in a car accident, we can help negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. Call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863 5312 for your 100% free consultation. You will not pay us anything unless we are successful in winning your case.

6 Tips For Negotiating A Car Accident Settlement

Negotiating with insurance companies can be tough. For this reason, we have included some tips for negotiating a car accident settlement, as seen below:

1. Initiate a Claim as Soon as Possible After the Accident

The first step in negotiating a car accident settlement is to contact the insurance company as soon as possible following the incident to initiate a claim. By initiating your claim as quickly as possible, your vehicle may be able to be repaired faster. Although you will need to provide your insurance company with certain information, such as the time and date of the accident, never make a recorded statement regarding fault until you have spoken to an attorney.

2. Keep Accurate Records

You should also keep and maintain a file of records in relation to your car accident. This includes the police accident report, any medical records documenting your injuries, vehicle repair costs, and all other records that may be relevant to the incident. These documents will be necessary when discussing settlement amounts.

3. Determine a Fair Settlement Amount

Before sending your insurance company a demand letter, you should first determine what you believe is a fair settlement amount for your claim. To calculate a fair settlement, you should take into account a variety of factors, including your past and future medical costs, loss of income, pain and suffering, and property damage.

4. Send the Insurance Company a Demand Letter

After deciding on an acceptable settlement figure, you should send a demand letter to your insurance company. This letter should contain how much money you demand because of your accident. Your demand should include medical receipts, car mechanic bills, and related proof of expenditures. Further, this demand should not be the lowest amount of money you will accept, as you will likely be negotiating with your insurance company and will need space to be flexible.

5. Never Accept the First Offer

Insurance companies stay in business by paying as little as possible for claims. Thus, the first offer an insurance adjuster will make will likely be too low. Never accept an initial offer that you believe is too low. Instead, you should negotiate and make a fair counteroffer.

6. Hire an Attorney with Experience in Handling Insurance Companies

To get a fair settlement amount, it may be necessary to hire an attorney with experience in negotiating with insurance companies. The right attorney can help investigate your case, determine what a fair settlement is, and negotiate on your behalf.

Need help? Contact Zinda Law Group today.

John (Jack) Zinda

Founder / CEO

Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.

Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are frequently asked questions regarding counter offering an insurance adjuster’s claim and details on how to maximize your car insurance claim.

How Do You Counter Offer a Car Accident Settlement?

In most situations, the insurance companies will offer you low settlement amounts in hopes that you will accept it and not negotiate. It is important to remember, however, that you are not obligated to accept this amount. In fact, you should always plan on countering the first settlement amount insurance companies give you.

To counteroffer successfully, it is important to first understand what you believe your case is worth. This may be based on a variety of factors, including medical costs, loss of income, and your pain and suffering. You must be able to take this evidence and use it to explain why the insurance company’s offer was unacceptable.

Next, you will need to physically draft a letter as a counteroffer. You will likely want to attach the above-mentioned evidence in the form of bills and receipts to support your position. You will also need to present your preferred amount for the settlement. You will then submit this letter to your claims representative.

Drafting a counteroffer may be challenging without the proper legal guidance. For this reason, Zinda Law Group attorneys are available 24/7 to discuss your claim and help you present a fair counteroffer.

How Can I Maximize My Car Insurance Claim?

There are several things you can do to help maximize your insurance claim, such as:

Evidence is Key. When making a claim for your car accident, you need as much evidence as possible in order to help prove your case and to receive fair compensation based on the damage you suffered, both physically and on your car.

It is important to take pictures of the accident scene, all cars involved, and any injuries that you sustained. Pictures are very important to take right away, especially injuries, as they can heal quickly.

At the scene, it is also helpful to talk with any witnesses who can back up your claim to the accident. Witnesses may have been able to observe part of the accident that you forgot or didn’t notice. If there were police officers involved, it is also very important to keep records of their report as another reliable witness to your claim.

Acknowledging your surroundings during the time of the accident are also crucial. For instance, you should take note of the road or weather conditions at the time of the accident or if the other driver seemed intoxicated.

One set of important documents to keep on file are all medical bills. This is crucial for the attorneys to use to prove your case and to show to the court that the pain caused during the accident was real and you were left to pay for it. If these medical problems caused you to miss any work, contact your employer to fill out an affidavit that verifies your claim of injury and inability to work because of the accident.

Know Your Insurance Policy. Another important facet of negotiating a claim is to have a good understanding of your current car and health insurances. Knowing how much that your policies covered on these accidents is crucial when desiring a reimbursement in the settlement.

When negotiating the claim, it is suggested to double or triple your expenses that you made because of the accident, as there are chances to receive more or less money depending on the specific case; your attorney will be able to help you work out these numbers more accurately.

When negotiating a car accident claim, it is key to remember all of the details, keep all of the evidence you can, and be prepared with adequate information on your own insurance policies. It is the aim of the attorney to then take these facts and help you sort through them and accurately present your case and help you toward the goal of winning the settlement.

If you have any other questions regarding maximizing your claim or counter offering lowball settlement amounts, contact Zinda Law Group as soon as possible. Our team has ample experience in dealing with insurance companies, and we may be able to help you as well.

Neil Solomon

Partner

Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.

Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation

Need Help? Contact Zinda Law Group Today

Negotiating with insurance companies can be a daunting task, as insurance adjusters are trained to offer you low settlement amounts in hopes you will take the money without a fight. These low amounts, however, may not cover your medical expenses, lost wages, or mechanic bills. In order to receive a fair settlement amount, you may need to contact an experienced personal injury attorney who has experience in negotiating with insurance companies.

If you have been involved in a car accident and are unsure of how to deal with insurance companies, call a Zinda Law Group personal injury attorney today at (800) 863 5312 to set up your free initial consultation. As always, you do not pay us anything unless we are able to win you compensation in your case. That is our “No Win, No Fee Guarantee.”

Meetings with attorneys are available by appointment only.