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Every personal injury case is unique, and there's no standard point at which settlement negotiations begin in earnest.
Typically, if someone else caused your injury, and the incident is covered by their liability insurance, you'll be making what's called a "third party" claim under that policy. To get an idea of what these claims look like in the wake of the most common accident scenario, learn more about third party car insurance insurance claims.
The big picture injury settlement negotiation process typically looks like this:
Learn more about the timeline of a typical personal injury case. Now let's look at how to best position your claim for success during the negotiation process.
If you and your lawyer put together a demand letter, you should have determined what you believe your claim is worth. (Learn how insurers value a personal injury claim.) Within that range, and before you speak to an adjuster about your demand, decide on a minimum settlement figure that you will accept. This figure is for your own information—so you can keep your bottom line in mind when under the pressures of negotiating—but it's not something you should reveal to the adjuster.
You don't have to cling to the figure you set for yourself. If an adjuster points out some facts you hadn't considered but that clearly make your claim weaker, you may have to lower your hopes a bit. And, if the adjuster starts with an offer at or near your minimum, you may want to revise your figure upward.
If you receive a "reservation of rights" letter from the insurance company, don't be alarmed or intimidated. This letter informs you that the insurance company is investigating your claim, but that it's reserving its right not to pay you anything if it turns out that the accident isn't covered under the policy.
The letter simply protects the insurance company by preventing you from claiming that the company's insurance policy covers your accident just because it began settlement negotiations with you.
When the insurance adjuster makes you a first offer, it may be so low that it's just a tactic to see if you know what you're doing (more on this below). Or, it may be a reasonable offer, just too low.
If the offer is reasonable, you can immediately make a counteroffer that's a little bit lower than your demand letter amount. This shows the adjuster that you, too, are being reasonable and are willing to compromise. A little more bargaining should quickly get you to a final settlement amount you both think is fair.
If an adjuster makes a first offer so low that it's obviously just a negotiating tactic to see if you know what your claim is really worth, do not immediately lower the amount you put in your demand letter.
Instead, ask the adjuster to give you specific reasons why the offer is so low, and make notes of what he or she tells you. Then write a brief letter responding to each of the factors the adjuster has mentioned. (See a sample reply to an unreasonably low settlement offer.)
Depending on the strength of any of the adjuster's reasons, you can lower your demand slightly, but, before lowering the amount very far, wait to see if the adjuster will budge after receiving your reply.
The next time you speak with the adjuster, begin by asking for a response to your reply letter. The adjuster should now make you a reasonable offer upon which you will be able to bargain and arrive at a fair settlement figure. Remember, most personal injury cases settle at some point, it's just a question of when.
In these negotiations, don't bother to go over all the facts again. Just emphasize the strongest points in your favor—for example:
If you've sent the adjuster a photo of a smashed car or a severe-looking injury, refer to it.
If your injury interfered with your ability to care for your child, mention that your child suffered as a result.
Even though there is no way to put a dollar value on emotional distress and "pain and suffering", these components of an injured person's losses ("damages") can go a long way toward getting an insurance company to come to the table with a fair settlement offer.
When you and the insurance adjuster finally reach agreement, immediately confirm the terms in a letter to the adjuster. This letter can be short and sweet, stating the amount for which you settled, what injuries or damages the settlement covers, and the date by which you expect to receive settlement documents from the insurance company.
When you're making a personal injury claim, it's a near-certainty that at some point you (or a lawyer) will need to:
If you feel capable and willing, it might make sense to handle a personal injury claim on your own, at least initially. But if the insurance company doesn't seem to be taking your claim seriously, or if you're just not comfortable handling the process on your won, it may be time to consider putting your case in the hands of a legal professional. That's especially true if you've been seriously injured.
A personal injury lawyer will have the expertise to best position your claim for a fair result, and the experience to negotiate on your behalf until the best outcome is achieved. Learn more about when you might need a personal injury lawyer and how to find the right injury attorney for you and your case. You can also use the tools on this page to connect with a legal professional in your area.