Why You Should Never Accept an Insurance Settlement Without Legal Advice

People who are injured in a car accident, a slip and fall incident, or any other type of personal injury typically feel relieved after getting an insurance settlement proposal. A quick insurance settlement payment from providers can lead to serious financial problems for victims. Insurance settlement approval without legal consultation creates dangers for all parties involved.

The primary duty of trained insurance adjusters focuses on protecting their company’s financial interests instead of focusing on your health needs. The compensation amounts in insurance settlements fall short of what victims need to cover their medical expenses and lost time at work. A legal expert must assess all settlement proposals before you accept them because this evaluation process determines if you will receive sufficient compensation.

Most insurance settlements contain provisions which eliminate your right to seek additional compensation from the insurance company after accepting the offer. The receipt of an insurance settlement eliminates your ability to get additional compensation from the responsible party.

Lawyers Can Uncover Hidden Complications

Legal professionals possess tools which help them identify complex issues that non-lawyers cannot detect. Your total recovery amount will decrease because of post-settlement claims such as Medicaid or Medicare liens and child support obligations and ERISA liens while you become responsible for any unaddressed liabilities.

States, including New Jersey, enforce time limits for personal injury claimants to file car accident and slip-and-fall cases which amount to two years. Your case will become invalid when you miss the established time limits for filing.

Time Is Critical: Insurance Companies Move Fast

Delay is dangerous. Insurance companies start their efforts to reduce their financial exposure right after receiving your claim. Your failure to act promptly will result in lost evidence and missed critical deadlines that affect your case.

Your current belief about a minor injury might be wrong because future health complications could develop from what seems unimportant at first. The process of handling small claims does not require legal representation but these cases can develop into complex matters that need professional legal help.

It is better to let a lawyer review your case before you make a decision that might lead to future regret.

Lawyers Can Maximize Compensation

Experienced attorneys protect your interests while securing better results than insurance companies offer. Many experienced law firms now employ attorneys who used to work in insurance defense to help clients fight against insurance company strategies.

The combination of medical experts with visual aids and trial readiness enables attorneys to secure optimal settlements because insurers understand they will face legal consequences if they do not provide fair compensation.

Most Attorneys Work Contingency With No Upfront Cost

Your financial status should not stop you from seeking legal assistance. Personal injury law firms operate on a contingency fee basis which allows clients to pay their lawyer only after securing a successful case outcome. The payment structure enables all people to access legal services while creating shared goals between lawyers and their clients.

Legal Negotiation

The process of legal negotiation involves sophisticated methods which exceed basic emotional or friendly guidance. The legal team possesses the ability to calculate and demonstrate all possible damages which include medical expenses and lost wages and future medical needs and emotional harm and physical discomfort and ongoing health deterioration.

What to Do If your Employer Denies you Workers Compensation Benefits

Your attorney protects your rights by handling all insurance correspondence to secure proper compensation for your complete worth.
The insurance adjusters tend to miss the prolonged medical evidence which exists in most cases. Attorneys use their expertise to study ambiguous liability situations which enables them to build strong legal arguments.
Your presence with an attorney during settlement talks makes insurers understand your willingness to file a lawsuit which leads them to provide better settlement offers.
Insurance companies attempt to reduce their payments but lawyers defend their clients through evidence-based claims.
Your rights stay protected by your lawyer after you sign the settlement agreement because they will continue to defend them. Your lawyer will ensure your settlement includes all possible future costs that might arise.
Expert supervision is necessary for complex cases because they involve multiple factors including liens and deadlines and changing injuries and legal documents.
The lawyer accelerates evidence collection to defend your position before evidence disappears.

Your physical body suffered damage while you endured mental distress and financial losses. The fast settlement process should not deceive you into accepting ongoing financial damage that will continue after the agreement. Before making any settlement choice you should follow these essential steps:

You should consult with a personal injury attorney regardless of the size of your injury.
Your attorney needs to review the insurance offer while determining all possible damages you can claim.
The evaluation of your case requires complete assessment of all liens and deadlines and injury-related expenses that change over time.
Your insurance company correspondence should be handled by your legal representative throughout the negotiation process.
You should only accept a settlement after you understand all its conditions.

A lawyer safeguards your rights while handling insurance company interactions to secure proper compensation for you. The insurance company’s control of your case will result in negative results for your situation.

Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman is on Your Side

Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman achieves case victories through its extensive experience and customized strategies and dedicated service approach to clients. Our law firm has 90 years of experience serving New Jersey and Pennsylvania while its attorneys bring an average of 30 years of experience and a total of 400 years of combined expertise. The extensive local knowledge of the team enables them to predict insurance company strategies and successfully navigate through the legal system.

Our firm operates on a contingency fee model which requires clients to pay no initial costs because they only need to pay fees when we achieve compensation for their case. The court sets a 25 percent fee limit for workers’ compensation cases which means clients will not need to pay anything when their case fails to succeed. The fee structure protects clients from financial exposure because it links the firm’s payment to achieving the best possible results for their cases.

Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman operates in multiple practice areas which include personal injury cases, workers’ compensation claims, family law, employment and labor disputes, and commercial litigation. We base our operations on providing exceptional client service to its clients. The firm delivers responsive communication and compassionate guidance and personalized attention to make clients feel supported instead of treated as case numbers. We provide legal support through our offices located in Lawrence Township, Cherry Hill, Nutley, Morristown, and Lawrenceville to ensure accessibility and convenience.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

People who suffered injuries because of others’ negligence should start their search for legal rights immediately. The personal injury lawyers at Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman serve clients in New Jersey with their extensive experience. Our team will review your situation to explain your available options and fight to obtain every compensation amount that belongs to you.

More PR&A Results

$750K

$750,000 Settlement – Wrongful Death in Nursing Home

A nursing home’s failure to administer essential medications led to preventable injuries and the untimely death of a young man. The case settled shortly before trial following extensive legal work and coordination with the family.

$500K

$500,000 Settlement – Fall on Residential Property Resulting in Infection

A prospective homebuyer suffered serious injuries and infection after falling on an ice-covered property that had not been properly maintained. The matter was litigated until a maximum-value settlement was achieved.

$975K

$975,000 Settlement – Spinal Surgery Medical Malpractice

An undiagnosed underlying health issue during spinal surgery resulted in permanent injuries that could have been prevented. After aggressive litigation, we secured a $975,000 settlement for the client and his family.

$305K

$305,000 Settlement – Firefighter Injured in Structural Collapse

A firefighter suffered a serious hand injury while forcing entry into a burning building during a search and rescue. The door was recessed in a non-code-compliant way, and the fire was caused by negligent hot tar work performed by the landlord. The case settled after expert testimony confirmed the long-term vocational impact of the injury.

$405K

$405,000 Settlement – Fall on Defective Staircase

A woman was injured when a wooden step collapsed beneath her as she was walking up to her mother’s apartment. She required arthroscopic surgeries to her right knee and shoulder, as well as spinal injections to manage pain. Our firm retained an engineer who confirmed the staircase was poorly maintained by the landlord. The case

$255K

$225,000 Settlement – Trip and Fall on Deteriorated Sidewalk

An elderly woman fell due to a hazardous sidewalk caused by improper drainage and erosion from nearby construction. She required a total knee replacement. The case was resolved for $225,000 without litigation.

$260K

$260,000 Settlement – Slip and Fall Leading to Spinal Neurotomy

A woman slipped on untreated ice outside a commercial building, sustaining spinal nerve damage. She later underwent a neurotomy procedure for chronic pain management. The case settled for $260,000 without going to trial.

$505K

$505,000 Settlement – Slip and Fall on Ice with Spine and Knee Surgeries

A delivery worker slipped on an icy stairway that had not been properly treated. He ultimately underwent lumbar fusion and knee surgery. A $505,000 settlement was reached before trial.

$510K

$510,000 Settlement – Rear-End Collision with Fatal Post-Surgical Complications

A wife and mother were rear-ended in a car accident and later died following complications from gallbladder surgery related to her injuries. We obtained a $510,000 settlement for her surviving family members.

$310K

$310,000 Settlement – Motorcycle Fatality on NJ Turnpike

We represented the estate of a young correctional officer who died in a motorcycle crash caused by furniture that had fallen onto the NJ Turnpike from another vehicle. His young child was the sole beneficiary. A pre-trial settlement of $310,000 was secured following investigation and expert analysis.