Truck Insurance Settlements: Why You Shouldn’t Accept the First Offer Made

Let’s just get this out of the way now—you should never accept an insurance company’s first offer, even if you want to settle your personal injury claim after a truck accident. Why is that? No matter how friendly or nice an insurance agent may sound, you’ve got to remember that they are in the business of making money. They work for a company and not for you, so their primary objective is to save the most they can, which means lowballing you with their first offer. An insurer will rarely ever pay out a large settlement during your first interaction. Even if the offer seems like a lot of money now, you need to consider whether or not it will cover all of your expenses for medical bills, pain and suffering and loss of wages. Often, it will not. Consider this first offer as more of a test from the insurance company, since they have nothing to lose and everything to gain from a lowball first offer. If you accept a settlement offer, the insurance company will typically ask you to sign a release that protects the company from any future claims involving injuries from your truck accident. Signing this release means that your case is closed. You cannot go back and file another claim or reopen an old one if you find out later on that your injuries are more severe than you thought and need more compensation. To avoid being manipulated, it is essential you contact our Toledo truck accident attorneys at Williams DeClark Tuschman Co., L.P.A. Once you retain a legal representation, the insurance company is not legally allowed to contact you and all communication must go through the attorney. An experienced lawyer can work with you or on your behalf to make a counter-offer to get you the settlement you deserve. Call our team at (419) 719-5195 or contact us online for a free consultation.