So, you were injured in a Calvert County, Maryland, auto accident, and now, the insurance company for the other party is offering a settlement. The question is: should you take it? The experienced Calvert County, MD., car accident lawyers at the Law Office of Robert Castro cannot answer that question without more information. However, we can offer some issues to consider. If you want to contact us, our number is (301) 870-1200, or you can use our contact page. Here are some issues to consider before taking a Maryland car accident settlement offer.

How long has it been since the accident?

This matters for several reasons. First, with many accidents, it takes time to fully evaluate what happened AND to determine the FULL extent of injuries. Some injuries do not manifest with symptoms until days or even weeks after an accident. If you have been the victim of a Maryland car accident, you are legally entitled to compensation for all of your injuries and damages. Second, it takes time to gather the evidence of fault and gather it in the correct format for use in legal proceedings. For example, if you have lost time at work because of the accident, you can claim lost wages or earnings. Mostly, that can be “easy” to obtain, but some employers are slow in responding. If the evidence is not gathered, then the insurance company will not be including it in the settlement offer.

Insurance company representatives know this. This gives them incentives to make quick settlements. Once a settlement is reached and paid, the injured victims cannot ask for additional damages and compensation. A settlement is for ALL claims, even ones that might show up in the future. With a quick settlement, the insurance company might be paying a lot less than they might. So, this is one thing to consider before accepting a settlement offer from an insurance company.

Are you badly in need of money and is the insurance company preying on that need?

Insurance company representatives also know that some victims end up badly needing money, particularly if the accident resulted in injuries that keep the victims from working. As the healing and recovery continue, week after week, without any income, they begin to pile up, and financial worries begin to mount. Sadly, some insurance company representatives are predatory about such situations. They will dangle a low-ball settlement offer in the hopes that the claimants will be desperate enough to take the offer. So, another thing to consider before accepting a settlement offer from an insurance company is whether they are preying on your desperation.

Are you being asked to sign papers and do you know what you are signing?

Before giving you a settlement check, every insurance company is going to ask you to sign a pile of papers written by the insurance company lawyers. Before accepting a settlement offer, ask for the papers in advance and ask for at least a couple of days to read them. Then, actually read the papers. Do you understand what the papers say? Do you understand what they are asking you to sign? If not, consider that it may be beneficial to seek legal advice and counsel from a Maryland personal injury attorney.

Contact Waldorf, MD Personal Injury Attorney Robert Castro Today

This article has been provided by the Law Office of Robert Castro. For more information or questions, contact our office to speak to an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer at (301) 870-1200. We are Waldorf, MD, Personal Injury lawyers. Our address is 2670 Crain Highway, Waldorf, MD 20601.