Why You Should Never Settle Too Early, The Hidden Cost Of Premature Agreements In California

In this article, you will discover:

• Why California insurance companies pressure you to settle quickly after a crash.
• The risk of settling a personal injury claim before you are fully evaluated.
• Future medical or rehabilitation damages you’ll miss if you settle too quickly.

Why Do Insurance Companies Pressure Victims To Settle Quickly After A Crash?

Insurance adjusters have quotas, and their performance reviews track how quickly they can close claims. Specifically, their superiors evaluate how many claims or “exposures” they close monthly. For that reason, they are incentivized to close them as quickly as possible. Even if the adjuster handling your claim isn’t writing you that check from their bank account, they’re still motivated to minimize exposure to their company.

What Are The Risks Of Settling Before My Injuries Are Fully Evaluated?

The most significant risk is that you could be left holding the bag. You may incur unforeseen medical expenses or property damage issues in the future. If you sign a release, it will forever bar any further action for injuries or property damage related to the incident. For that reason, you should try to receive all the treatment you need as close to your pre-incident condition as possible before settling the case.

How Are Long-Term Catastrophic Injury Costs Calculated?

True catastrophic injuries will require a lifetime of continued care. These expenses are best categorized by a life care plan specialist who can best predict all the potential needs you may have in the future. While these life care plans are neither inexpensive nor expedient, they are thorough and provide a roadmap for what to pursue from the at-fault carrier’s policy.

Attorney Shawn Gozarkhah is a skilled lawyer based in Los Angeles who has helped numerous clients like you navigate the complexities of auto wreck law. With years of experience, he is prepared to assist you with properly settling your car wreck claim for the maximum amount and avoiding an early settlement on the insurance company’s terms.

Still have questions? Ready to get started? Contact The Law Man Group, APC today to schedule an initial consultation.

Can Future Medical And Rehabilitation Damages Be Missed In A Premature Settlement?

Depending on where you are in your treatment and its progress, various future costs may be overlooked.

If you haven’t received medical imaging, you may need an MRI, X-ray, or CT scan in the future. If you haven’t seen an orthopedic or pain management specialist, you may need to see one in the future. If you haven’t moved forward with a potential surgery, you might miss out on critical surgical costs. Even if you’ve had surgery, the need for revision surgery or the presence of adjacent segment disease complications is very often missed.

Even for experienced attorneys, it’s crucial to ensure no stone is left unturned when presenting a settlement demand to an insurance carrier or a damages claim to a jury.

Why Is Legal Representation Crucial Before Agreeing To Any Offer?

You don’t know what you don’t know. Because you don’t see these kinds of cases, reports, bills and required future care every day, it’s impossible to advocate for yourself regarding what you’ll need in the future. An experienced attorney will hire experts to offer opinions regarding what will be required in the future and ensure recovery for those needs as part of the case.

Notes From The Field: Balancing A Client’s Urgent Financial Needs With Waiting For A Fair Settlement

Delay, delay and deny. It’s a common tactic we see daily from insurance companies. This process is not quick or easy, and that’s deliberate.

Insurance carriers hope you’ll settle for what’s on the table because of your personal needs or obligations. There’s a balancing act between providing closure, putting money in your pocket and moving on with life versus not leaving too much on the table and regretting it down the road. A seasoned attorney can discuss with you the options for a potentially higher recovery down the road and whether it makes sense to wait.

Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started?

For more information on the early settlement of car wrecks in California, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (818) 618-0508 today.