Should I Accept A Check From The Faulty Driver Or The Faulty Driver’s Insurance Company?

There are many moving parts to a car accident that can implode on a victim all at once. In addition to the immediate need of attending to one’s own medical needs, there are also other financial considerations to take into account as well. This involves getting your car or truck repaired, accounting for time off work, and much more. Out of all this will almost certainly come a need for cash, which makes any settlement offered by the faulty driver’s insurance an appealing prospect indeed. A common question becomes whether or not accept such a check, and the answer is usually no.

There is the Bigger Picture to Consider

If the other driver is found to be at fault in the car accident, it is logical to assume that compensation is coming your way in one form or another. While this is typically true, it does not mean that you need to accept the first offer of a check made be either the other driver or the insurance company. In fact, it is likely not to be in your best interest to do so even considering that will mean you must wait a bit longer to get any money.

This is not to mean that there will not be a certain level of temptation in accepting that check. There are, after all, bills that need to be paid as a result of the accident. Those bills, however, should not be your responsibility since the accident was not your fault. In addition, it takes time in the aftermath of an accident to add up the actual cost and determine the final compensation that you are legally entitled to. If you were to accept the first offer of a check that comes your way, you would be throwing away the opportunity to receive more in financial damages at a later date. It is simply a more prudent course of action to wait and enlist the services of a lawyer to help you.

An Attorney Will Fight for Your Rights

Another reason to not accept a check from the faulty driver or the insurance company is that you need to give a lawyer the opportunity to work out a settlement on your behalf. This almost always results in you getting much more compensation, that you legally deserve mind you, than accepting the first offer of a cash settlement. Remember that you are no obligation whatsoever to talk to the other driver’s insurance company. In fact, it is recommended that you not do so. They will work hard to trick you into accepting less money that you are due, because it is their job to look out for the company’s bottom line and profit margin. To avoid getting caught in a trap, just refer all calls to your lawyer.

A lawyer will help you get you that check, but it will be one that you deserve. They will work on your behalf and present your case to the insurance company for a fair settlement. If the insurance company is not willing to act in good faith, then it also a professional and experienced attorney who can take your case to a court of law if necessary. Your lawyer will determine how much money you are legally entitled to, negotiate with your car and medical company’s to delay payment, and work to get you compensated for time off work. This is all done behind the scenes, so you can just focus on your own recovery.

If you find yourself the victim of a car accident in Los Angeles, contact our office for legal advice as soon as possible.