If you were injured in a car accident in Los Angeles or the San Fernando Valley, one of the first things the other driver’s insurance company will do is contact you with a settlement offer. It may seem like a relief — a quick resolution to a stressful situation. But accepting that first offer is almost always one of the biggest mistakes an accident victim can make.
At Girgis Law Firm, APC, attorney Anthony Girgis has spent over 16 years negotiating with insurance companies on behalf of injured clients throughout Encino, Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Northridge, and the greater Los Angeles area. Here is what he wants you to know before you sign anything.
Why Insurance Companies Make Quick Offers
Insurance companies are businesses. Their goal is to resolve claims for as little money as possible — and they are very good at it. When an adjuster contacts you shortly after your accident with a settlement offer, it is not because they are being generous. It is because they know something you may not: the full extent of your injuries may not yet be apparent, and once you accept a settlement and sign a release, you cannot go back and ask for more money — even if your injuries turn out to be far more serious than initially thought.
Your Injuries May Not Be Fully Known Yet
Whiplash injuries, disc herniations, and soft tissue damage frequently do not reach their full severity until days or even weeks after a car accident. A concussion may present with worsening symptoms over time. In some cases, what initially seems like minor soreness turns out to require surgery or long-term physical therapy.
If you accept a settlement before you have completed medical treatment and received a full prognosis from your doctor, you are almost certainly leaving money on the table — often tens of thousands of dollars or more.
What a Fair Settlement Actually Includes
A fair personal injury settlement in California should account for all of the following:
- All past medical expenses related to the accident
- All future medical expenses including surgery, physical therapy, and ongoing care
- Lost wages for time missed from work
- Lost future earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work
- Pain and suffering — calculated using California’s multiplier method
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The first offer from an insurance company rarely accounts for all of these categories — and almost never accounts for future medical expenses or pain and suffering at their full value.
What to Do Instead
Do not respond to the insurance company’s offer without first consulting an experienced personal injury attorney. At Girgis Law Firm, APC, attorney Anthony Girgis offers free consultations to accident victims throughout the San Fernando Valley. He will review your case, evaluate the full value of your claim, and negotiate aggressively on your behalf to recover the maximum compensation you deserve.
The consultation is free. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
Injured in a car accident in the San Fernando Valley? Contact Girgis Law Firm, APC for a free consultation. Attorney Anthony Girgis represents accident victims throughout Encino, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Northridge, Woodland Hills, and surrounding communities. Call (818) 986-5000 — no fees unless we win.
