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After filing a personal injury claim, you shouldn’t expect the unexpected. From the very beginning, you should know what’s going to happen. Our law firm prides itself on educating injured claimants about the financial recovery process.
Here, we’ll provide some basic information about what to expect after we file your claim. If you have any case-specific questions, we recommend consulting our legal team.
The Insurance Company Will Request Supporting Evidence
You can’t file a claim with the insurer and immediately expect fair compensation. You need evidence to demonstrate your accident’s cause, your injuries’ severity, and other related factors.
Evidence may include:
- Your written testimony
- Dashcam footage
- Traffic camera recordings
- Your medical records
- Statements from accident reconstruction experts and healthcare professionals
- Your injury-related invoices and receipts
- The police report
This evidence should prove that because of another party’s actions, you suffered harm in a collision and deserve compensation.
The Insurance Company Will Offer a Settlement as Soon as Possible
In a perfect world, insurance companies would carefully review each claimant’s situation before extending an offer. However, this doesn’t always happen. The claims adjuster will review your case’s paperwork and enter some numbers into the computer. From there, they may offer you the smallest settlement possible.
We know you’re eager to resolve your case. Yet, the first offer does not always account for your past, ongoing, and future damages. It may be a test to see if you’ll accept less than you deserve.
You have the right to turn down unfair offers––regardless of what the claims adjuster says. Our legal team can calculate your losses and consult with experts to determine what your case is worth. Then, we’ll fight for what you’re owed.
The At-Fault Party May Offer You Compensation
After your car accident, the other driver might discourage you from filing a claim. Instead, they may offer you cash in exchange for not reporting the accident.
This will not work to your advantage. First, you may not understand your case’s value when accepting this money. Secondly, accepting cash can complicate the claims process and may prevent you from seeking additional funds.
We recommend going through the standard claims process, even if the at-fault driver offers you money.
The Insurance Company May Blame You for the Accident
Both Georgia and South Carolina operate on a comparative negligence system. If you contributed to the accident, this can reduce your final settlement or court award.
To reduce your settlement, the insurer may unjustly blame you for the accident. It might even claim to have substantial evidence despite having nothing. Our lawyers can review your case and determine whether any allegations of fault are true.
The Insurance Company Will Ask for a Recorded Statement
The insurance adjuster will likely call you soon after the accident to get your side of the story. You’re not required to give a recorded statement by law. A recorded statement only benefits the insurance company and gives the adjuster reasons to devalue your case.
By consenting to a recorded statement, you risk:
- Having your words taken out of context
- Allowing the claims adjuster to edit the recording
- Answering a question incorrectly
- Oversharing
- Unknowingly discrediting your condition’s severity
Your lawyer can give the claims adjuster the information they need. They do not need a recorded statement to process your claim.
Your Settlement Should Account for Each of Your Losses
Your claim ends the moment you accept an offer––even if you accepted a low amount. Ideally, your collision shouldn’t leave you with any out-of-pocket expenses. Your settlement should comprise:
- All your medical bills, including future treatments
- Income-related losses, including lost wages, employee benefits, and tips
- Property damage expenses, including your car’s diminished value
- Pain and suffering
- The cost of renovating your home to accommodate a physical disability
We can evaluate your case’s value and advise you on any potential offers.
The Insurer May Refuse to Settle
Our experience tells us one thing: most injury cases settle through insurance claims. However, not all insurance companies want to settle. In this situation, you can file a lawsuit against the at-fault motorist.
Here, you can seek compensation beyond the liable policy’s limits. This process involves:
- Filing your lawsuit
- Understanding your losses’ value
- Abiding by state and federal courtroom procedure
- Communicating with the involved parties, including the defendant’s legal team
- Advocating for your rights
- Demonstrating your accident’s cause
Settling Your Case Can Take Some Time
Ideally, we can file your claim and recoup compensation within days. However, it all depends on your case’s strength and the liable insurer’s cooperation. It may take days, weeks, or months to resolve your case. It may take longer if we file a lawsuit.
We encourage you to be patient. Remember: hastily accepting the first settlement offer may not fully account for your losses.
We Can Share What to Expect After Filing an Injury Claim
George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers has over 40 years of experience. In that time, we’ve resolved 40,000 cases. You’ll always know what to expect when you partner with us. While you focus on getting better, we’ll fight for the compensation you need.
To begin your free case review, dial (888) 612-7001.