What are my options if I receive an unacceptable settlement following a car accident?

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Your car insurance company might handle hundreds of car accident and personal injury settlements each week. The volume equips representatives at your auto insurance company with valuable experience at reviewing accident claim details. However, when it comes to the final insurance settlement terms, insurance companies can still make mistakes.

Working With Accident Claim Adjusters

Speak with your auto insurance claims adjuster and discuss the details of your car accident settlement. Options you can discuss with the claims adjuster include:

  • Lowering the number of comparable autos used to determine the value of your vehicle.
  • Unexpected repair costs required to fix your car.
  • Costs to repair other damaged property related to the auto accident.
  • Medical expenses.
  • Lost wages associated with missing work to file paperwork, meet with doctors, etc.
Bring medical and car repair bills with you when you meet with the claims adjuster. Also present the auto insurance claims adjuster with estimates for required future medical and car repair work that is related to the accident.

Comparables is an area where you might find the easiest room to make settlement adjustments. Do your homework and get the value of three to five cars or trucks similar to yours that have a cash value you think your auto has.  Present these findings to the adjuster.

Contact an Accident Lawyer

If your insurance company or your claims adjuster refuses to change the amount of your car accident settlement, contact an accident lawyer. Look for an accident attorney who has several years of experience handling auto insurance settlements.

You can use an accident attorney to resolve auto claim disputes whether the dispute involves the value of your auto or personal injury settlements. A good accident lawyer can help you to recover money for lost wages, medical expenses, and emotional distress caused by the auto accident.

Independent Auto Accident Appraisers

Also contact your state motor vehicles department and ask if they have a list of independent car accident appraisers. There might be a small fee ($500) required to use the independent appraiser, but if the gap between the value of your auto or injuries and the settlement is significant ($600 or higher), the cost could be worth it.

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