Many people who have been in a car accident contact me to ask whether they should accept an insurance company’s financial offer to settle their case. My answer is always the same—not without the help of an experienced personal injury attorney. While there are some simple cases where the other driver’s insurer makes a reasonable offer, the vast majority of initial offers are too small to adequately compensate you for your injuries, your passengers’ injuries, loss of work, damage to your vehicle, and unforeseen medical expenses. Insurance companies know that after an accident, you are likely anxious to start repairing or replacing your vehicle, may be out of work, and need money. Many accident victims are eager to accept any payment, however inadequate.  This is a significant mistake, and attaining the help of a personal injury attorney can help you avoid it. Because I so often receive questions about settlement offers, I have written the following blog post to describe how I advise clients who have been involved in an automobile accident.

If you were involved in a car accident, you will need the help of experienced counsel to attain your fair share of compensation for your injuries, car replacement, and loss of work. Barrett Law has the experience to help you—contact us now at (601) 790-1505.

Should I Accept a Settlement Offer from the Insurance Company?

 You should never accept an insurance company’s initial offer to settle your case. Often, insurance companies will send injured parties a check in the mail because they know that accident victims often need money immediately to cover the costs associated with the crash. But if you cash that check, you are likely foreclosing any ability to get any more compensation and are waiving any future claims.  Don’t do it.

The problem with the insurance company’s initial offer is that it often fails to contemplate all of the expenses related to the accident. While it may replace your car and cover a night at the emergency room, those expenses are tiny compared to a lifetime of medical care that you may need to address a chronic neck or back problem that may arise months after the accident.  Similarly, an initial offer rarely compensates the victim for loss of work that may occur from migraines or headaches that often result from accidents.  Simply put, an insurance company’s initial offer is rarely worth considering, and is never worth considering until all of your injuries have completely healed, and you have been deemed healed by a medical provider. Up until that point, you cannot know whether your injuries are behind you or whether you will need a lifetime of expensive care to deal with their constant or periodic flare-ups.

While you should not accept an insurance company’s initial offer, you also cannot wait endlessly to decide.  Mississippi has a three-year statute of limitations, meaning you have three years from the time of your accident to decide whether to file suit against the person who injured you or your passengers.

What Should You Do If You Have Been in a Car Accident?

As I described above, if another driver’s negligence injured you or a loved one, you will need the assistance of a talented personal injury attorney to help you decide whether to accept an insurance company’s settlement offer or to press on and litigate to attain your fair share of compensation.  If you are in a car accident, you should seek immediate medical attention and then contact an experienced personal injury attorney.

Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you have been injured as a result of another person’s negligence. Contact us now at (601) 790-1505.