subject: First Offers In Personal Injury Claims [print this page] If you've had a serious accident in the car, in public or at your place of work, it can be a disorientating and distressing time and when you are making a compensation claim it can be worrying that you'll put time and effort into the claim and will end up with nothing.
This common concern often leads to claimants being unsure as to whether they should take the first offer an insurer or solicitor makes them, as this cuts out the rest of the claims process and means they are guaranteed at least some compensation.
The fact that many claimants are thinking this, is being used to advantage those in the wrong, as they will manipulate the fear and confusion by putting pressure on a potential claimant to take a low offer. This means they often save themselves money, time and effort, but can leave the claimant with less than they really deserve.
However if in most cases the first offer will be considerably less than what the claim is actually worth, with some cases having a difference of over 1000%. After the stress of an accident, which may have lead to loss of earnings, both past and future a difference of this much value can really change your life for the better, whereas an initial offer may only cover basic costs or loss of earnings so far.
Although the claims process can often take some time, if your solicitor advises you that continuing is the best course of action then they are usually right. By taking a first offer or settling out of court for less than you deserve, you are not only missing out on compensation which you are entitled to, you are also reinforcing the guilty party's protestations of innocence.
All in all if your employer didn't protect you in the workplace, a reckless driver caused you injury or anyone else with a duty of care failed to carry it out correctly, then you are entitled to compensation and an apology, so why wouldn't you try to achieve this?
by: Jessica O'Neal
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
