Stop! Talk to Me Before You Accept an Insurance Settlement

Insurance companies want you to settle without talking to me. It is in their best interest to keep you from consulting with a personal injury attorney.  There are multiple reasons why this is a bad idea and they include:

• You may not know the extent of your injuries. 

If you settle before you know the full extent of your injuries, you will receive less money than you actually deserve. For example, you may be experiencing headaches and soreness but nothing more after a rear-end collision. You assume that the pain will go away in a few weeks; therefore, you settle the claim with the insurance company for your property damage and a small amount to compensate you for your inconvenience.

As the weeks go by, your headaches become more frequent and you begin to develop other symptoms such as dizziness, sleep problems, problems concentrating, and nausea. You go to your doctor only to discover you have a closed head injury that will require expensive medical treatment and missed work. You are now responsible for all of these costs because you accepted the settlement with the insurance company and signed a release of liability.

• The insurance company will have you sign a release of liability.

As part of your settlement agreement with the insurance company, you are required to sign a release of liability. The release prevents you from suing the at-fault party if you discover your injuries are more severe than expected or you discover injuries you were unaware of at the time of settlement.

• You may not understand the full value of your claim.

As an experienced personal injury attorney, I understand Georgia personal injury laws.  I know what damages you are entitled to receive for your injuries. Most accident victims know they should have their medical bills and lost wages covered; however, they may not understand that they may also be entitled to receive compensation for physical pain, emotional suffering, anxiety, scarring, disfigurement, and disability.  If you do not consult an attorney before accepting an insurance settlement, you may be leaving money on the table that you could have received if you were represented by an attorney.

• Insurance companies do not play fair.

Insurance adjusters are not your friend and insurance companies are not looking out for your best interest. Insurance companies are in business to make money; therefore, they train their adjusters to offer low settlement amounts and use tactics that could harm the victim’s future settlement negotiations. Pushing accident victims to settle quickly, sign a medical release, and provide a statement without consulting with an attorney are tactics used by most insurance companies.  Do not sign any documents or provide any statements without consulting with an attorney.

Is the Insurance Company for the Other Driver Pushing You to Settle?

You have the right to consult with legal counsel before accepting any settlement offer — please exercise this right. The lawyers of Council & Associates, LLC offer free consultations and free case evaluations so you can get the facts about insurance settlements before making a costly error. 

Call (404) 526-8857 or (844) 909-2273 to schedule your free appointment to discuss how we can help you maximize the amount of compensation you receive for your accident claim. We are here to protect YOUR best interest against large insurance companies.