After Alexis M. of New Jersey was injured in a car crash, the insurance company for the at-fault driver offered to settle her case for $18,000. Following the advice of her lawyer, she rejected their offer and went to trial – where she was awarded a $1.8 million judgment.
In this issue, we’ll talk about the classic case of why it’s crucial to not even attempt to negotiate with an insurance company without sound legal assistance.
What happened to Alexis M.?
She was riding in the front passenger seat in a vehicle that was stopped at a traffic signal before being slammed from behind by the at-fault driver.
Alexis sustained a neck injury that eventually led to chronic pain and spinal surgery. Even though she had graduated with a degree in the culinary arts, she was forced to ditch her dream of becoming a chef.
What happened to the settlement from the insurance company?
Thankfully for Alexis, she and her lawyers turned down the $18,000 settlement offer from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
After presenting their case, the 8-member jury deliberated for 90 minutes before finding in her favor for $1.8 million.
Was the lowball offer typical for insurance companies?
Yes, lowball offers like the $18,000 are common ploys for insurance companies. Included with their offers are assurances to pay for medical costs that have already been incurred by the victim and nothing more.
After the first offer has been made, many insurance companies will then slow-walk any further negotiation. This goal of this is two-fold:
- To make the victim feel the financial squeeze from medical bill obligations even more
- To push the case to the limits defined by statutes of limitations
Don’t try negotiating with insurance companies alone; call The Fitzgerald Law Firm
The bottom line is this: insurance companies are a business, and their primary concern is making money. That’s why you should always talk with a lawyer if you’ve been injured by someone else rather than trying to take on the insurance company by yourself.
For a free consultation, call us at 800-323-9900.