Be Aware of Low-Ball Settlement Offers After a Car Crash in Massachusetts

Hi, my name is Chuck Pappas and I’m a personal injury attorney in Massachusetts. Here is a tip to anyone who has been injured in a car accident that was caused by someone else.

Common Insurance Company Tactic | Low-Ball Settlement Offers

A common tactic that insurance companies use in Massachusetts car accident cases is to make low-ball settlement offers shortly after an accident. They do this in hopes of paying much less than the case is worth. That’s what the insurance adjusters’ jobs are – to pay as little as possible and save the insurance company money.  

Example of a Low-Ball Settlement Offer

I represented a gentleman from Ashland, Massachusetts. He was involved in a head-on collision. While his injuries were not life threatening, he did sustain a serious concussion as well as back and neck injuries. The insurance company called him shortly after the crash. They extended a settlement offer of $2,500. The adjuster told my client that is what the value of his case is and that’s what the value of those typical kinds of cases are.

I could tell right away after evaluating his case and listening to his story that his case was worth much more than $2,500. In the end, we settled his claim for $75,000. As you can tell, that’s a drastic difference between the initial offer of $2,500 and the final settlement of $75,000.  

Here’s Why You Should NOT Accept Settlement Offers Soon After a Crash

The reason you shouldn’t accept settlement offers soon after a crash is because, at that point in time, it is very difficult to determine the value of a case. First off, you do not know the full extent of your injuries. Additionally, soon after an accident, you do not know the full amount of your economic damages – medical bills and lost wages. Lastly, you are not going to be able to assess the value of compensation for your pain and suffering.

This is why you should be aware of low-ball settlement offers shortly after a crash. It’s always best to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney, who can properly evaluate your case and let you know what you can expect.