Read This Before You Settle Your Car Accident Claim

Insurance companies are a business, like any other, and they’re in business to make money. They can’t do that when they are paying out hundreds of thousands, or even millions, on car accident claims. If your claim isn’t outright denied, they are likely going to offer the lowest possible amount. Often, this first settlement is far lower than what is needed to cover even your most basic post-accident expenses.

Something an insurance company won’t do is fully calculate your claim’s total worth. Since they want to pay out as little as possible, they aren’t going to look into collecting every hospital or doctor bill, every vehicle repair receipt, or documentation of your lost wages. It is up to you to put that information together. If you haven’t yet, you don’t have a real idea of what your claim is worth. A car accident attorney can help you gather this information so that you know approximately how much you should be compensated for. If the insurance company’s offer is below that, it is likely in your best interest to decline and present the insurance company with your documentation.