After a truck accident, you may be dealing with severe injuries, medical bills, and lost work. When the insurance company contacts you with a settlement offer, you may be tempted to accept it and move on with your life. However, accepting the insurance company’s first offer is rarely a good idea. In fact, until you have had all your current and future damages determined and accurately valued, you cannot know what a fair settlement of your claim would be.
You need the help of an experienced Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer to protect your rights, identify causation and liability, accurately determine the value of your claim, build your strongest case, and help you secure maximum compensation for your damages.
At Rosen Injury Law, we have decades of experience protecting truck accident injury victims and their families, and we can help you recover every dollar you are owed. Call (954) 787-1500 or visit our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim.
First Settlement Offers Are Usually Too Low
Insurance companies are in business to make a profit. Their primary goal is to pay out as little as possible to injury victims. When an insurance adjuster makes an initial settlement offer, they are hoping you will quickly accept it, before you have consulted an attorney and learned the actual value of your case.
Truck accidents can cause injuries that may not become apparent for weeks and may require ongoing medical care. Once you have accepted a settlement offer, you cannot go back and ask for more if you later discover that your damages are greater than you thought. Insurance companies hope you accept a settlement before you realize the extent of your damages.
Insurance companies also hope you don’t understand all the damages you’re entitled to recover. Beyond medical bills and vehicle damage, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, loss of future earning capacity if you cannot return to your previous job, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disability or disfigurement.
Additionally, they’re counting on your urgent need for money. If you’re unable to work due to your injuries and medical bills are piling up, a quick settlement can seem like a tremendous relief. Insurance companies use this financial pressure to get you to accept far less than your case is worth. Discuss your Fort Lauderdale accident case with a knowledgeable attorney today.
Determining the Actual Value of Your Truck Accident Claim
One of the biggest mistakes truck accident victims make is accepting a settlement before they fully understand their injuries and prognosis. Some injuries don’t show symptoms immediately or may take time to diagnose. Others may seem minor at first but develop into severe, chronic conditions.
Your damages may include current and future medical expenses such as emergency care, hospitalizations, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, medical equipment, and home healthcare. You also need to consider lost income from missed work, reduced work capacity, or an inability to return to your career.
Vehicle repair or replacement costs, rental car expenses, and other property damage must be accounted for. The settlement should also address pain and suffering, emotional trauma, loss of enjoyment of life, and the impact on your relationships with family members.
Insurance companies know that truck accident cases can be worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. That’s why they push hard for early settlements—they want to close your claim before you realize its actual value.
Before even considering a settlement offer, you should receive a complete medical evaluation, follow all recommended treatment plans, reach maximum medical improvement or have a clear prognosis for your condition, and consult with an experienced attorney about the actual value of your case.
Rushing to settle your claim can leave you responsible for thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in future medical bills, with no way to recover that money from the insurance company.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Rosen Injury Law
If you have been injured in a truck accident caused by another party, you may be entitled to recover significant compensation for your damages. Do not accept a settlement offer from the insurance company too quickly. You need to ensure that you know the full value of your claim.
At Rosen Injury Law, our injury litigators in Fort Lauderdale can evaluate your claim and provide an estimate of its value, so you can determine whether a settlement offer is fair. We have the experience, skills, and resources to help you secure maximum compensation for your damages.
Call (954) 787-1500 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim.