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Long, Jean & Wechsler, P.A.

Long, Jean & Wechsler, P.A.

Personal Injury Attorneys in Pompano Beach Florida

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    • Lyle R. Long, Esq.
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  • Home
  • Areas of Practice
    • Animal Attacks
    • Boating Accidents
    • Car Accidents
    • Elder Abuse & Nursing Home Neglect
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Pompano Beach
    • Pompano Beach Product Liability Lawyers
    • Slip & Fall Accidents
    • Truck Accidents
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Wrongful Death Lawyers in Pompano Beach
  • Legal Team
    • Lyle R. Long, Esq.
    • Alex Jean, Esq.
    • Ryan Wechsler, Esq.
    • Len Blumenthal, Esq
  • Case Results
  • Pompano Beach Law Firm Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Pompano Beach, Florida

Expert Tips for Negotiating With Insurance After a Car Accident in Pompano Beach

March 27, 2021 by Lyle Long

Pompano Beach may be among the most beautiful areas of an already beautiful state. That said, car accidents can happen anywhere, even in a place this attractive.

If you’re ever injured in a Pompano Beach car accident, particularly one resulting from someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for the cost of medical treatment for your injuries, any lost income if your injuries prevent you from working, and more.

Collecting the compensation to which you’re entitled will typically require negotiating with an insurance company at some point. Because Florida uses the “no-fault” model, your own insurer is responsible for compensating you. This is the case regardless of who caused the accident.

(Although in certain special circumstances a Florida driver injured in a Pompano Beach car accident can seek additional compensation from the negligent party. An attorney can determine whether these circumstances apply in your case.)

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that just because they’re “your” insurer they’re on your side. Insurance is still a business. The goal of an insurance company is to pay out as little as they can justify. They’re not incentivized to compensate victims properly.

That’s why it’s important to keep certain tips in mind when negotiating with an insurance company. They include the following:

Determine a Settlement Amount Ahead of Time

You don’t want an insurance company adjuster to have all the power when you begin negotiating. If you don’t start off with a settlement amount in mind, they’ll immediately lowball you. It will be difficult for you to explain why you’re entitled to a bigger payout if the negotiations begin this way.

That said, determining a proper amount of compensation can be complicated. There are many factors you may need to account for to accurately calculate how much you’re owed.

This is one of many reasons you should strongly consider meeting with an attorney after being involved in a car accident in Pompano Beach. Personal injury lawyers have the necessary expertise to calculate a proper settlement amount.

Pay Strict Attention to Your Words

Odds are good you’ve never had to negotiate with an insurance company after a car accident before. Because this experience is new to you, you may understandably not realize that seemingly harmless behaviors or words can actually be substantial mistakes.

For example, when an adjuster contacts you, they’ll try to come across as compassionate and sympathetic to your situation. This involves asking you how you’re feeling.

Like most people, you might say “Fine” or “I’m well” even if that’s not an entirely honest answer. That’s simply how many of us naturally respond to such questions.

In the context of a negotiation, that type of response can hurt your claim. When making lowball offers, an adjuster could argue that, because you said you were doing fine, the lasting effects of your injuries weren’t that severe, and your compensation should reflect that.

You need to be very careful when speaking with an adjuster. One wrong sentence can significantly affect how much compensation the insurance company will eventually offer.

Many car accident victims also don’t realize that they aren’t required to answer an adjuster’s questions. They also don’t need to (and shouldn’t) agree to give recorded statements.

You generally don’t even have to correspond with an adjuster at all. When you hire a personal injury lawyer, they’ll typically be able to handle all the correspondence on your behalf. This mitigates the risk of accidentally saying something that will jeopardize your claim.

Don’t Accept the First Offer

No one wants to wait to receive the compensation to which they’re entitled after being injured in a Pompano Beach car accident. You may be eager to jump at the first offer an insurance company presents you with.

Resist this urge. Again, in the vast majority of circumstances, these offers are lower than they should be.

That doesn’t mean they’re always unreasonable. You need to exercise your judgment to determine if you think an initial lowball offer is too low to even take seriously, or if it’s almost enough to satisfy you. If you believe an offer is reasonable, but it’s still slightly lower than what you’re willing to accept, you could make a counteroffer, asking for a sum that’s a little bit lower than the one in your first demand letter. Demonstrating to an adjuster that you’re willing to be reasonable and negotiate in good faith can help the entire process run more smoothly.

Ask for Clarification

Sometimes it can be hard to determine if an offer is too low to qualify as reasonable. You don’t want to immediately ask for less than you did in your demand letter simply because you assume the adjuster may have valid reasons for making a low offer that aren’t apparent to you.

Instead, ask them to explain why they’re making such an offer. They might be able to do so in a way that makes sense to you. If they can’t, you don’t have to budge.

Be Honest about Emotional Points

Again, you don’t need to answer an adjuster’s questions, and it’s often smart not to. You can hire an attorney to manage correspondence.

Regardless, if you do speak with an adjuster, and you’ve already gone over the basic facts of the case, there’s little value in rehashing those facts multiple times. Instead, use your conversations with an adjuster as opportunities to highlight the significant physical and emotional consequences of an accident.

People often feel they need to “put on a brave face” after a traumatic event. They may not want to call attention to themselves by dwelling on the pain they’re facing in the aftermath.

That approach won’t do you any favors when negotiating with an insurance adjuster. For example, if you’ve been injured in a Pompano Beach car accident, depending on the nature of your injuries, you may no longer be able to fulfill your role as a parent to the same degree as you did before your accident. Perhaps your injuries prevent you from cooking meals for your family or driving your kids to and from their activities.

That’s just one example. The main point to understand is that a car accident can have very significant emotional consequences. Honestly addressing and bringing up those consequences during negotiations can sometimes sway an insurer to see your side and make fair offers.

You should also reference any particularly strong visual representations you have of the accident’s severity. These may include pictures of your vehicle that show how substantial the damage was (therefore suggesting how traumatic the accident was), pictures of your fresh injuries, and anything else you believe will make a significant impression.

Don’t Lie

This should go without saying. That said, it’s worth including here because sometimes a person can convince themselves that what constitutes a lie is merely just “stretching the truth” a bit.

It’s essential that you remember you don’t have to answer any questions you’re asked during negotiations, particularly if you think that doing so will hurt your claim. Omission isn’t lying.

That said, if you do lie, even a little bit, and the adjuster finds out, you’ll have forfeited your credibility. This essentially sabotages all future negotiations.

It’s worth noting that exaggerating can have the same effect as lying. You’re also likely to get caught in an exaggeration. Once you exaggerate any detail, every single time you speak with an adjuster, you’ll have to remember that you exaggerated.

More importantly, you’ll have to remember how you exaggerated. That’s not easy to do over the course of a long negotiation. You’ll probably slip up at some point.

Don’t Discuss Pre-Existing Injuries

Insurance adjusters rely on many different tactics to justify making lowball offers when negotiating with car accident victims. A common one involves claiming that an injury isn’t as severe as a victim claims because it’s in fact merely an exacerbation of a previous injury.

Don’t give an adjuster the opportunity to use this strategy by discussing pre-existing injuries.

Don’t Share Irrelevant Information

You don’t have to give the adjuster your Social Security number. You don’t need to give them the names of family, friends, or colleagues.

Sharing this kind of information is very unlikely to benefit you in any way. It could, however, put you at a disadvantage. For example, there’s a chance an adjuster will speak with someone from your life who might, whether intentionally or unintentionally, make a statement that implies you’re capable of being a dishonest person. That won’t do you any favors during negotiations.

All these points clearly illustrate why negotiating directly with an insurance company after being involved in a Pompano Beach car accident is often not in your best interests. Instead, consult with an attorney. You’re much more likely to reach a fair settlement with a personal injury lawyer on your side.

Why LJW Legal?

Here at LJW Legal, we don’t merely promise to offer aggressive representation to Pompano Beach car accident victims. We have a track record of success to prove we’re capable of delivering results. To learn more about what we can do for you, contact us online today.

 

Category: Personal InjuryTag: car insurance settlement
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1937 E. Atlantic Blvd. Suite 205
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Long, Jean & Wechsler, P.A.
Long, Jean & Wechsler, P.A.
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arletty fernandezarletty fernandez
21:24 13 Nov 22
Ryan and Helen were very thorough and diligent with my case. This was my first time having to hire for this type of service and am honestly thrilled to have been referred to such a diligent, efficient and caring team. They made sure to stay in touch and keep me updated all throughout my case. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Thank you all for your excellent care.
Florane FleurinorFlorane Fleurinor
14:52 03 Oct 22
Very good, professional and responsible lawyer. His office was in contact with me every time they had new information. Step by step Mr. Alex Jean would explain to me what is going on with my case. I didn’t have to wait for years for results. So far from what I hear from other people about their cases Mr. Alex Jean is the best. And I will reference my family and friends you and thank you so much
alexis Johnsonalexis Johnson
20:35 13 Sep 22
Ryan Wechsler is by far one of the best lawyers around. He gave me the assurance that everything was going to be okay. He is a very professional, respectful, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and an honest lawyer. His entire team (Daniela & Helen) was amazing. Very pleasant and kept me up to date every step of the way during my case. Ryan fought hard for me! I’m very thankful for all of his hard work and everyone at Long, Jean & Wechsler. If you’re ever in need of a great legal team give them a call.
Saif PowerSaif Power
14:59 30 Aug 22
Lyle was a pleasure to work with, he delivered on his promises. He was very prompt with his responses and very helpful when we first touched base. I’d definitely take him again on any relevant case.
Luiz CentLuiz Cent
02:15 13 Jul 22
I hired Alex Jean for a personal injury case and little did I know I was going to get world class treatment.I was referred to the best Chiropractors in Miami and then when I moved to St.Pete the LJW team had great connections there too.My Tesla is as good as new, my back is recovering and not to mention the settlement from the insurance. If I didn’t hire them I’d still be trying to recover money from insurance to fix my car.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you need a personal injury attorney I 100% recommend Alex Jean and the team at LJW.
Princess Maryam Abdul-AkbarPrincess Maryam Abdul-Akbar
16:29 07 Jul 22
Ryan Wechsler is an excellent attorney. He worked tirelessly on my case, which was a difficult one to begin with. When other attorneys were given me issues to take my case, he was the only one that was reassuring and determine to seek justice for me. I completely trusted his counsel. Had it not been for Mr. Wechsler I would have accumulated a lot of debt. I am forever grateful that he accepted my case.
Angelina AkkadAngelina Akkad
12:47 30 Jun 22
Ryan and the team are absolute rock stars! I got a recommendation from a good friend to use them, and I was not disappointed. They solved my issue with one strong letter and avoided a bad situation and lots of time and $$$ saved. I will definitely be using them again if the need ever arises.
Micheca AristildeMicheca Aristilde
19:46 08 Jun 22
Very good firm. I had an unusual case. A crane dropped on my car the week of Christmas. Considering the fact my accident occurred during the holiday season, Lyle and his paralegal, Helen, ensured that I received treatment the same day, got a rental, and even settled my case in less than 6 months.They were extremely polite, communicative, and on top of everything. I highly recommend reaching out to them for great legal representation.
GatorGator
19:20 08 Jun 22
Worked with Ryan and he helped me navigate the process of our law suit. Was in great communication throughout the process. 5 stars
Patrícia OsorioPatrícia Osorio
02:16 08 Jun 22
We had a great experience with Lyle and their team. The communication worked great, they had the patience to explain all the details to us and were responsive to our questions. We got a great settlement.
Perry CrawfordPerry Crawford
18:55 15 Apr 22
Lyle and his law group conducted themselves professionally and were very caring and concerned about my injury. My recovery was foremost on their minds.He fought for me relentlessly and got me what I truly deserved. His confidence and tenacity won the case decisively.Thanks Lyle.
Andrea ChlimperAndrea Chlimper
17:18 15 Apr 22
I highly recommend Lyle Long and his firm. Additional to a very very good settlement amount, Lyle and his staff were a pleasure to work with. Lyle walked me through the entire process from the moment I contacted him regarding my automobile accident. They were excellent with communication, returning my calls/emails and keeping me informed with updates and progress. Unfortunately, this is my 2nd time hiring his firm. My first experience was that positive that I never thought about hiring another firm to handle my legal matter.
TT
20:04 28 Mar 22
I highly recommend using this law firm. They’re super friendly, super helpful and very very professional. They had everything under control and dotted all the i’s and crossed all the t’s. I couldn’t be more happy with there service!!!
Viral-_-buildzViral-_-buildz
18:44 01 Feb 22
I got Into an accident 8/13/2021. A friend of mine told me to contact Ryan, I reached out to him the day after my accident ( which happened to be a weekend day ) and he immediately got right on the case. He was very helpful and I was literally able to reach out to him by phone or text any day and any time. He is always available. He set me up for all of my medical treatment and made sure I understood the whole entire process. He’s a great lawyer and is really on your side. My case was resolved in 4 months and my settlement was way more than I expected. I couldn’t be more thankful for him and his staff. They are excellent.Thank you Ryan,Latia J
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