After an accident, you may have a stack of medical bills you are worried about paying. You may be concerned about having the money for the mortgage or rent. You may not be happy with the initial settlement offered to you by the insurance company, but it may feel like a bad idea to wait for another offer.
An Atlanta car accident attorney at John Foy & Associates is happy to answer your questions regarding any settlement you are considering. Keep in mind that most of the time, insurance companies will respond to your second settlement offer within a week or two, and being patient may mean the difference in a substantial amount.
Contact our legal team today to discuss your needs. We can provide a free consultation to give you the information you need to make the best decisions moving forward.
What Happens When You File a Claim?
The timeline for a personal injury claim can range widely. There are some rare cases in which you may receive quick approval of your claim and can move on. That is not often the case.
Instead, insurance companies will likely try to negotiate that settlement lower, reducing how much they have to pay out in your case. This can be frustrating, but just because they offer a lower value does not mean you have to accept it.
We often encourage people to seek a second settlement, going back to the company to request more money based on the evidence in their case. These offers and counteroffers may draw out the process, but they often lead to more compensation for you.
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How Long It Takes to Get a Second Offer
The length of time it takes between each offer can range significantly based on the details of the case. In many situations, insurance companies will respond to offers and counteroffers quickly, usually making a decision within a few days to a few weeks. However, this can go on much longer.
There are some situations where it can take weeks to months before you can agree to the settlement amount offered. It is very tempting in these situations to simply try to move on by accepting a lower settlement amount. That may not be the best decision for you.
There are many cases when it will take until the third or four settlement offers until you come to an agreement that meets your needs.
When Will You Get a Check from the Insurance Company?
Once a settlement offer is agreed to, the insurance company then has to cut you a check. There are a few additional steps in this process internally for the company, and generally, it can take from two weeks to as long as a month to finally get the check in your hand after the settlement offer is agreed upon.
The amount you receive can also vary. During the settlement negotiations, generally, there is specific information included about this. For example, you may be given the money in full at the time of settlement. Other times, the money may be paid out over a few months or longer.
Your attorney may also recommend setting up a trust account for the check. This allows the funds to be kept safe until they clear the bank.
Should You Accept a Lower Offer from the Insurance Company?
This is one of the most important conversations to have with your car accident attorney. In every case, you should be seeking compensation that is fair and just for what you have experienced. To do that, you need to have analyzed all of your losses in the matter, including those medical bills, but also the losses you have yet to incur at some point in your future.
For a serious accident, it takes a lot of work to calculate what those losses may include. Our attorneys will be honest and frank with you about what you are up against and what you can expect moving forward. That includes:
- What amount should you seek for a settlement initially based on your losses and all damages you have incurred
- The likelihood of being awarded non-economic damages and punitive damages in your case
- How much negotiation your case could take based on past experience
- Whether or not a negotiation offer is wise or if you should push for more
- When it is time to go to court to obtain the compensation that is owed to you
Each case is dependent on things like:
- Verifiable losses you have suffered
- Fault in the incident
- Claim limits
- Past cases like yours and how they were paid out
- Negligence and the implications of it
- Your need for funds
Long Term vs Short Term Needs
Many people do not like to talk about the compensation component of this process, but the fact is you may need to consider your short-term and long-term financial needs after a substantial accident occurs.
- Will you be able to go back to work?
- Is your family going to be impacted by your inability to earn at the same rate you were?
- Will you struggle with pain for years to come?
- How much did this impact your quality of life and ability to live the way you always have?
- Are you going to need ongoing medical care and support that you do not want to put on your family members?
Set up a consultation to discuss your case with our legal team. Let us give you clear guidance on what you can expect going forward. Review our case results.
For a free legal consultation, call
404-400-4000
Get a Free Consultation with Our Accident Attorneys
How long it takes to get a second settlement offer will range in every case. Our legal team is here to help you by putting pressure on the insurance company to move things forward. Meet with us during a free consultation to learn more about what your legal options are.
Remember that if you do not win your case, you do not have to pay us for our attorney fees.
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