Understanding Personal Injury Law

Four Essential Tips For Disputing An Auto Insurance Settlement Offer

13 June 2016

Celina Nichols

When you make a car accident claim, the insurer can settle it, make you a counter offer or reject it. Expect a counter offer if the insurer believes your damages aren't worth what you are claiming it to be. However, what if you really believe your estimation is the correct one? In that case, you need to dispute the offer from your insurer, which isn't an easy task. Here are four tips to help you with the dispute:

Scrutinize Your Insurance Policy

One of the best ways of disputing a claim is by using your insurance policy to point out why you should be paid the amount you are demanding; after all, the policy represents your insurer's promises to you. For example, auto insurance usually doesn't cover tire damage, but there are exceptions. So if the amount you are demanding includes compensation for tire damage, it's your duty to prove (using the policy document) that the incident or accident falls under the exceptions.

Bring In an Independent Appraiser

Sometimes you may agree on the covered damages, but not on the amount it should take to repair them. For example, the adjuster may claim that you have inflated the repair prices. In such a case, bringing in an independent appraiser may help. If the independent appraiser supports your claims, then their report will strengthen your case and (hopefully) convince the insurer of the merit of your claim.

Back Up Your Claims 

It might be that the insurer made a low counteroffer because you didn't have enough evidence for your demand. If that is the case, then now is the time to dig up all documents relating to your claim. This includes the receipts, photos of the damage, and your medical release form.

Know Your Acceptable Range

Of course, there is no point in disputing a claim if you don't define what is acceptable to you. Consider an example where the adjuster is offering $5,000 and your initial claim was $16,000. In such a case, it's safe to assume that the final figure will lie somewhere between those two extremes. Know your acceptable lower limit so that you can stop wasting time with the negotiations if they drag on for long without getting anywhere near your limit. For example, it would be a waste of time to continue with the negotiations if the lowest amount you can accept is $13,000 and the adjuster can't even get above $8,000.

Hopefully, these tips will help you dispute the low offer successfully. However, there are cases where you just can't agree on an amount. Don't be afraid to proceed with a lawsuit and hire a car accident lawyer if you feel you have reached that point.

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