• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Whiplash & Whiplash Injury St. Louis

Whiplash & Whiplash Injury St. Louis

  • Whiplash
    • What is Whiplash?
    • How Long Does Whiplash Last?
  • Symptoms
  • Treatment
    • Exercises
    • Physiotherapy
    • Surgery
  • Compensation
  • Car Accident
    • What to Do When You Get in a Car Accident
    • The Most Common Causes of Car Accidents
    • Wrong Way Car Crash
    • Why Hire a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer?
    • Injuries
      • Brain Injury
      • Delayed Injuries
      • Head Injury
      • Leg Injury
    • T-Bone Accident
    • Uninsured Motorist
    • Who Pays My Medical Bills?
  • Whiplash St. Louis Blog

I Think My Car Accident Settlement Is Unfair. What Can I Do?

February 13, 2020 by Christopher

insurance adjuster offering pen to sign settlement offer

Car accidents are stressful events with numerous negative consequences in your life. Some of them have to do with all the effort you must make to pay medical or car repair bills. Negotiating with the insurance company and getting them to approve your claim isn’t a walk in the park either. Insurance companies are profit-oriented businesses and have an interest in settling for the smallest amount possible since it shows in their profit margin. You, on the other hand, have to make sure that you won’t have to pay for medical expenses or other costs out of your own pocket, especially if someone else is at fault for the accident. That’s why it’s critical to get in touch with a reputable St. Louis car accident attorney before embarking on this process.

Let’s imagine that you’ve contacted the insurance company to let them know about the accident. Shortly after, they call you back with an offer. Don’t take it, even though bills are piling up and you are desperate to pay them. Quite often, this offer is less than what you deserve and only represents a starting point for negotiations.

So, what should you do when you are presented with an offer you see as unfair?

Negotiate Further with the Insurance Company

Before you start thinking of other ways of solving a dispute, begin by negotiating with the insurance company. This is the point where you should speak with an experienced attorney if you haven’t done so already. The methods of calculating a fair amount for the settlement need to be based on hard evidence, and an experienced attorney will help you set realistic expectations.

Hire a Mediator to Solve the Dispute

Mediation means hiring a third party to overlook the negotiations and get the two sides to reach an agreement or conclude that they cannot agree. A mediator does not have the authority to impose a certain outcome for the dispute, but they can moderate the discussions between you and the insurance company, facilitating the communication.

Request Arbitration

Arbitration, on the other hand, is a legally binding method of solving a dispute. A neutral arbitrator will analyze the evidence and declarations of both parties and decide an outcome for the dispute. The arbitrator must be agreed on by both parties. This step is usually taken before going to court to avoid a costly lawsuit for both you and the insurance company.

File a Lawsuit

If all the other methods fail to help you reach an agreement, you can file a lawsuit against the insurance company. Be certain to do so only when you have the means to prove that the settlement is unfair or if you suspect that the insurance company acts in bad faith.

In either case, reaching a fair settlement can be time and money-consuming, and it is best done with the support of a St. Louis auto accident attorney with experience in these types of claims.

FREE Consultation

Speak with an experienced attorney 24/7

Click to Call: (314) 361-4242

Related Posts:

  • St. Louis Car Accident Attorney
    St. Louis Car Accident Attorney
  • St. Louis Car Accident Involving an Uninsured Driver
    St. Louis Car Accident Involving an Uninsured Driver
  • When to Get a Lawyer in a St. Louis Car Accident
    When to Get a Lawyer in a St. Louis Car Accident
  • Pre Existing Injury Aggravated in Car Accident
    Pre Existing Injury Aggravated in Car Accident
  • How to Obtain Compensation for a Soft Tissue Injury
    How to Obtain Compensation for a Soft Tissue Injury
  • What You Can Do to Avoid a Car Accident on Your Next Road Trip
    What You Can Do to Avoid a Car Accident on Your Next Road…

Filed Under: Whiplash St. Louis Blog Tagged With: Car Accident Claims

Footer

The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C.
130 S Bemiston Ave # 603
St. Louis, MO 63105
(314) 361-4242

Free Consultation Request

    RSS St. Louis Car Accident Attorney – Car Accident Lawyer St. Louis

    • 5 Common Types of Accidents Caused By Drunk Drivers
    • Daylight Savings Time Car Accidents – St. Louis Accident Lawyer
    • The 5 Steps of the Mediation Process for a St. Louis Car Accident
    • Step to Appeal a Denied St. Louis Car Accident Claim
    • 4 Unique Driver Distractions St. Louis Uber and Lyft Drivers Face
    • 5 Tips to Prevent Texting and Driving Car Accidents in St. Louis
    • Soft Tissue Injuries From St. Louis Car Accident – Common Misconceptions
    • Foot and Ankle Pain From a St. Louis Car Accident
    • Spinal Cord Injury Pain After a St. Louis Car Accident
    • Injured in an Uber or Lyft Accident in St. Louis? Know Your Options for Compensation

    Copyright © 2023 The Hoffmann Law Firm L.L.C.
    The images included on this site are not actual attorneys, events, or clients. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements. The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. Attorney Chris Hoffmann handles car and truck accident claims throughout Eastern Missouri and Western Illinois. He represents injured clients in St. Louis, St. Charles, St. Peters, Clayton, East St. Louis, Alton, Hillsboro and Belleville, and other cities in St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and Jefferson Country, MO, and St. Clair County and Madison County, IL.