You don’t have to accept or even deny an insurance settlement offer that’s too low. Instead, just tell the insurance company you’d like to talk to a lawyer before you do anything. This will give you time to make a careful decision or get advice from a lawyer. A consultation with us is completely free, so you have nothing to lose.
If you hire one of our lawyers, your lawyer can take care of any correspondence with the insurer and help you claim damages you may not have considered yet. Your lawyer can help in many other ways too.
What Damages Do I Deserve in My Settlement?
Depending on the facts of your case, you may be entitled to many damages, and you (and the insurer) might not have considered all of them. If you have a personal injury case or a similar case, you may be eligible for economic (financial) damages like:
- Any current and upcoming medical bills
- Any bills you may have for care or rehabilitation
- Lost wages due to an inability to work
- Diminished wages due to an inability to work the same job or duties
- Repair costs for your vehicle if you were in a vehicle accident
Additionally, you may be eligible for non-economic (certain physical, mental, and emotional) damages. These could include:
- Pain and suffering
- Short or long-term physical or mental disability
- An aggravated pre-existing health condition
- Mental/emotional anguish
- The loss of your ability to enjoy life or certain activities
You may have suffered the loss of a loved one. If you suffered this loss, in your wrongful death case, you could pursue the following economic and non-economic damages:
- Medical bills your loved one incurred
- Expenses for a funeral
- Burial or cremation expenses
- Loss of income and financial security for yourself and your family
- The loss of consortium (companionship, comfort, and care)
How Can I Increase My Insurance Settlement?
Your current settlement offer may not reflect the damages you deserve. However, the Ohio Department of Insurance says that, based on your policy terms, you have the right to a good-faith settlement offer from the insurer and the right to negotiate with the insurer’s adjuster.
A lawyer can help you recognize your eligibility for all the damages you deserve and can also negotiate for these damages for you. You’ll be able to focus on more important matters, such as your health and your family.
Additionally, your lawyer may be able to help increase the value of your insurance settlement offer by:
- Giving monetary values to non-economic damages, like pain and suffering, and then claiming these damages
- Collecting evidence to support your case and your claim to damages (evidence may include witness testimonies, cell phone camera footage, and other kinds of evidence, depending on your case)
- Determining exactly how much your case is worth so you can identify any other lowball offers
- Ensuring the insurance company does not misrepresent you and your needs
- Providing the insurer with all the documents and other information they may need (such as police reports, your phone records, and other information)
- Helping you understand your rights and responsibilities
We Can Go to Trial to Help You Recover Your Damages
In your case, negotiations with the insurer may be unsuccessful, and a fair settlement may seem impossible. However, your lawyer can take your case to trial and demand compensation there.
In a trial, your lawyer can call on experts (such as a medical expert or an accident reconstructionist) to testify on your behalf. Your lawyer may have many other ways of assisting you in trial so you can recover the compensation you deserve.
If You Have a Wrongful Death Case
If you lost a loved one, you may be struggling to get a settlement that reflects you and your family’s losses. It may be necessary for a lawyer to take your case to trial. One of our firm’s lawyers can help you explore other options, like filing a lawsuit.
You generally have two years from the date of an incident to file a wrongful death lawsuit, per Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.02. Alternatively, to file a personal injury lawsuit, you also usually have two years from the date of an incident, per Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.10.
A Phone Call Takes Little Time and a Consultation Is Free
You have nothing to lose by contacting The Fitch Law Firm LLC today. During your free consultation, we’ll evaluate your case, share more about our capable attorneys, and advise you on how to proceed and pursue compensation.
If you decide to hire one of our attorneys, your attorney will negotiate for a better settlement and, if necessary, fight for you in court. You don’t have to take on the insurer alone. Instead, reach out to us for legal support. Call our firm at (614) 545-3930 to learn your options for free.