The good news about car accident cases is that many of them settle long before their scheduled date in court. The negotiation process typically begins when the accident victim’s lawyer prepares and submits a settlement demand. The demand package includes copies of all of the accident victim’s medical records and bills. Also included in the demand package are relevant documentation, including the police report, photographs of property damage, and photographs of the personal injuries the accident victim received.
Once the insurance company adjuster reviews the settlement demand package, and provided the insurance company accepts liability, the adjuster will likely make an introductory settlement offer on the case. In most instances, these introductory settlement offers are low and do not represent the case’s full value.
Your lawyer can negotiate on your behalf to see if the adjuster will offer up a reasonable settlement number. Suppose the adjuster is dragging their feet or refusing to offer you the compensation that you deserve. In that case, your attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf in the court system and work to litigate your car accident case to a successful conclusion.
