Why shouldn’t I just accept the trucking company’s insurance settlement?

Have you suffered an injury in a truck accident caused by someone’s negligence? You might be tempted to take the trucking company’s insurance settlement offer. Yes, it’s a significant amount of money, but if you accept it, that could actually be one of the worst mistakes you’ll ever make.

Please talk to an Albany truck accident lawyer with Shrable Law Firm, P.C. before you talk to the insurer, sign any documents, or accept an offer. Our firm has extensive experience representing clients in truck accident cases, so we know what constitutes a reasonable offer. You can contact us online or call (229) 349-6291 for a free consultation.

Here’s some information on why the trucking company’s insurance settlement offer might not be as good as it seems.

Do you know how badly you’re hurt?

That might seem like a silly question, but it really isn’t. You might not know how much medical treatment you’ll need to fully recover, including future treatment. There’s a chance you could need surgery or extensive physical rehabilitation.

If you agree to the trucking company’s insurance settlement before the full extent of your injury is clear, you’ll likely later learn that the offer won’t cover all of your expenses. You’ll be on your own when it comes to paying for your remaining treatment and other expenses.

The insurer is going to lowball you

Just like any business, insurers and trucking companies exist to make a profit. They’re going to do whatever they can to protect their profits, and that means offering you far less money than you deserve. Not only is the settlement offer unlikely to cover all of your medical bills, it probably won’t cover your lost wages either. What about the money you’ll lose in the future because you won’t be able to work for months, or possibly years? 

Those are just the tangible losses you’ve incurred. What about the pain you’re experiencing, and the emotional distress you’ve endured? The trucking company’s insurance settlement won’t include payment for those kinds of losses either. 

Putting on the pressure

Insurance companies aren’t above using questionable tactics in an effort to preserve their precious profit margins. The adjuster assigned to your case will prey upon your pain, vulnerability, and uncertainty. You’re probably worried about the mountain of medical bills you face, or the fact that you’re losing money because you’re too injured to work.

Insurance adjusters will use those worries to their advantage. They’ll often try to intimidate accident victims into accepting the first settlement, saying it’s a “take it or leave it” offer that won’t get any higher. 

Adjusters will also ask misleading questions in an effort to trick victims into accepting at least some responsibility for the accident. They’ll often ask if they can record a victim’s statement “just so they can have your statement on the record.” What they’ll really do is use your words against you – and they’ll have the recording to show exactly what you said.

Don’t let this happen to you — Call Shrable Law Firm today.

It’s not hyperbole to say that if you accept a trucking company’s insurance settlement, and that settlement doesn’t cover all of your accident-related expenses, it will be one of the biggest mistakes you’ll ever make. You could end up paying tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket.

Never accept any settlement offer without having an attorney by your side to make sure it’s fair. That’s exactly what an Albany truck accident lawyer with Shrable Law Firm will do for you. Learn more by calling (229) 349-6291 to schedule a free case evaluation.