No one wants to be in an accident and sustain injuries. An accident can lead to drastic losses including medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. Usually, moving on from this accident requires getting financial compensation that can make up for all of your losses. But whether an insurer gives a fair settlement or not depends on your case. So, if you are not satisfied with the settlement you get, you can negotiate for a better offer as long as you can quickly. This is the reason you need a personal injury attorney in NH to help you with the negotiation process.
Submitting a Counteroffer
Changing your settlement is still possible if you have not signed a release liability form and a settlement agreement. The liability form serves as your consent to an exchange. When you sign this form, you agree to take the money from the insurance company in exchange for forfeiting your right to seek further compensation or hold the at-fault party liable. When the form is signed, your settlement becomes final. This is the reason you need to be sure the offer is fair before you sign the document. An injury attorney can help you determine if an offer is fair. They can review the offer for inconsistencies like a certain amount in medical coverage that won’t pay for the medical care you may need in the future. If your attorney thinks the offer is too low, they can negotiate a settlement with the insurance company before you sign an agreement.
Your personal injury attorney can submit a reasonable counteroffer and negotiate an amount with the insurance company until it makes a fair offer. If the insurance company’s offer is not enough for your losses, your attorney can take your case to trial. While a trial comes with the risk of losing your case and not getting anything, there is a chance that you can get greater compensation than you would get with a settlement when it ends in your favor.
Accepting an Offer Limits Your Options
After you accept a settlement offer from the insurer, it can be hard to renegotiate. The insurer wants you to settle for the least amount of compensation possible. And when you accept its offer, it may not want to increase the offer again.
Once you sign the release form, your only option is to reopen the case and try to change things. But this means going through the complicated legal process from square one. Should your case go to trial, your attorney could file a motion like an appeal.