What Is A Lowball Settlement Offer In A California Personal Injury Case?
A lowball offer is a settlement offer from an insurance company that doesn’t come anywhere close to covering the full extent of your damages. It’s a tactic insurance companies use to resolve cases quickly and cheaply before the injured person fully understands the value of their claim.
These offers might leave out key compensation for medical bills, deny certain injuries, or ignore pain and suffering altogether. The best way to know whether an offer is fair or far too low is to consult with a personal injury attorney who has experience valuing claims and negotiating with insurers.
Why Do Insurance Adjusters Ask For Recorded Statements After Los Angeles Car Wrecks? Should I Provide One?
Insurance adjusters commonly ask for recorded statements sometimes even demand them after a crash. This applies to both your own insurer and the other party’s insurer. If it’s your own insurance company, you may have a duty to cooperate under your policy, which can include providing a statement. However, this cooperation doesn’t need to happen on their timeline, and it should never be done in a way that could harm your claim.
When it comes to the other driver’s insurance company, you’re under no obligation to provide a recorded statement. In fact, we highly discourage you from doing so. Any inconsistency between what you say in that statement and how you describe the event later could be used to undermine your credibility, shift liability onto you, or devalue your claim. Before giving any recorded statement, always speak with an attorney.
What Are My Rights If The Insurance Company Downplays My Injuries In My California Personal Injury Claim?
Unfortunately, insurance companies aren’t in the business of doing what they’re actually supposed to paying the full value for claims.
If they’re minimizing your injuries or offering a settlement that doesn’t cover your medical bills, pain, and suffering, you have options but only if you act within the statute of limitations. You can do one of two things, including file:
- A lawsuit to force the issue and pursue what you’re owed.
- A complaint with the California Department of Insurance. This may prompt some movement, but it won’t compel payment.
The most effective way to get results is to file a lawsuit backed by strong legal representation. And if you’ve started negotiating without an attorney, it can be much harder for one to come in later and “fix” things. That’s why it’s so important to connect with a personal injury lawyer early on in the process.
Shawn Gozarkhah is a founding attorney of The Law Man Group, APC, a California-based firm that has successfully represented countless injury victims facing aggressive insurance tactics. With a deep understanding of how insurers operate from lowball offers to delay strategies, Shawn and his team have helped clients recover the compensation they rightfully deserve after serious wrecks. Backed by real courtroom wins and hard-fought negotiations, they know what it takes to stand up to powerful insurance companies.
If you’ve been injured, don’t go it alone reach out today for experienced, relentless representation.
What Should I Do If An Insurance Company Intentionally Deny My Claim?
“Deny”. It’s a classic insurance tactic intended to wear you down and get you to walk away or accept less than you deserve. If you’re getting the runaround, hiring an experienced attorney is one of the most effective ways to force action.
A skilled lawyer will know how to use California’s Insurance Code and civil procedures to push the insurer forward. You can also file a grievance with the Department of Insurance. While they can’t force a payout, they can contact the insurance company and encourage action on your behalf.
How Does Hiring An Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer In Los Angeles Protect Me From These Sorts Of Unfair Tactics?
A seasoned personal injury lawyer has seen it all delay tactics, lowball offers, bad-faith denials. They won’t be caught off guard, and they know how to respond. The earlier you bring in a lawyer, the better they can protect your rights, gather strong evidence, and negotiate a full and fair resolution. Waiting too long can make the road ahead harder and limit your options.
How Far Insurance Companies Will Go
Of all the common insurance tactics to avoid after a wreck, perhaps the most egregious tactic we’ve come across is the early settlement trap. In one case we handled, an insurance company sent a field adjuster directly to the hospital room of our injured client with a settlement release in hand before the client even knew the full extent of their injuries.
The offer didn’t come close to covering the medical bills, much less future treatment or pain and suffering. Fortunately, we were able to challenge that agreement in court and set it aside. We later secured a resolution that truly reflected the damages our client endured.
The takeaway: never sign anything from an insurance company without talking to an attorney first.
Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started?
For more information on common insurance tactics to avoid after a wreck, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (818) 699-0492 today.
Shawn Gozarkhah is a founding attorney of The Law Man Group, APC, a California-based firm that has successfully represented countless injury victims facing aggressive insurance tactics. With a deep understanding of how insurers operate from lowball offers to delay strategies, Shawn and his team have helped clients recover the compensation they rightfully deserve after serious wrecks. Backed by real courtroom wins and hard-fought negotiations, they know what it takes to stand up to powerful insurance companies.
If you’ve been injured, don’t go it alone reach out today for experienced, relentless representation.
