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NEVER Accept the First Offer After a Accident
One of the first worries that people have after being injured in a motor vehicle accident is “How am I going to get my medical bills paid?”
Directly following an accident, it’s impossible to know the full extent of your injuries or how long the recover process will take. Insurance companies often prey on victims’ immediate need for money by offering a low ball settlement, hoping you’ll bite rather than waiting for what you really deserve.
These quick, comparatively small settlements generally include an enticing offer of paying more in the future, especially in cases where the clear liability is on the part of the other driver. Don’t fall for this trap.
This exact situation occurred recently with a client of mine. After his wreck, the insurance company offered him $2,500.00 plus up to $15,000.00 in future medical costs over the next six months. An offer like this can be tempting – but once the settlement release is signed and the money is accepted, it would be impossible to go back and ask for more money if you learned that your injuries were more severe than first thought.
My experience is that it takes longer than six months for injured people to know if they will need advanced medical care or surgery. The first six months is often spent pursuing conservative care and hoping it’s not a long-term injury. If early treatment fails, often complicated and expensive MRIs or CT Scans and referrals to specialists are needed to fix the problem. After six months, none of these costs will be covered.
If my client had signed the $2,500 settlement, he would have potentially lost out on thousands of dollars needed for ongoing medical care and non-medical damages such as lost income. The insurance company would’ve gotten away with paying next to nothing, and my client would’ve been saddled with massive bills he couldn’t possibly pay.
Skilled motor vehicle accident attorneys like myself will rely on the guidance of medical experts to estimate costs of future medical treatments his clients may require. I fight for my clients, always looking out for their best interests and ensuring they receive the settlement they deserve.
Contact Larry M. Spears for accidents
in Oklahoma and all of the 50 states.
I have extensive experience. Call 405-235-5605 to speak with Larry M. Spears about your case. Your initial consultation is free and comes with no obligation.