What happens if you reject a settlement letter depends on why you have rejected it and where you are in the negotiating process. You could have the option of either continuing negotiations for a better settlement or taking your case to court.
An Atlanta personal injury lawyer can review any settlement letters you receive and let you know if they are fair or not. With their help, you can be sure that whatever settlement you end up accepting is an accurate reflection of all of your losses.
Accept No Settlement Offers Without Serious Consideration
When you get into an accident that is someone else’s fault, their insurance company may get in touch with you right away. They are not doing this to be helpful. More likely, their goals are to:
- End your case as quickly and as cheaply as possible
- Get you to accept a settlement before you figure out your case’s true worth
- Find ways to reduce what they have to pay you
- Get you to agree to a deposition or to give a recorded statement before you have had a chance to consult an attorney
We can dispute an insurance adjuster’s determination of fault, presenting the evidence we uncover from our own investigation. We will ensure that you do not accept any settlement that undervalues your insurance claim.
A Personal Injury Attorney Can Review All Settlement Letters
To protect your rights, it is a good idea to hire a personal injury law firm as soon as you have completed (or at least started) medical treatment. Your legal representative can:
- Handle all communications with the insurance company and all other parties
- Discuss with you the nature of any conversations they have with the insurer, including settlement offers and letters
- Help you decide whether to reject or accept a particular settlement
- Answer any questions you have about the settlement process or the broader legal process
For a free legal consultation, call 404-214-2001
Negotiating for a Fair Settlement Takes Time
Instead of accepting the first settlement offered by the insurer, take some time to go over it with your lawyer. It is entirely possible that your attorney can get a better deal if you are willing to be patient. Given time, they can:
- Meet with the insurer’s representatives as many times as it takes to extract a fair offer
- Put together a case that they can use to prove the current settlement offer is inadequate
- Push back against the insurer’s attempts to undermine your case or get out of paying a just settlement
- Go through their settlement letters point by point to make sure you understand what they are offering
- Reject or accept settlement offers on your behalf
Why Reject a Settlement Letter?
The main reason for rejecting a settlement letter is that it contains some provision you or your lawyer find objectionable. Usually, this means that the insurer has not offered enough money to cover all of the damage their client did.
It is very important to read over and understand every provision in a settlement letter before you accept it. If there is anything you do not understand, have your lawyer explain it to you before you sign.
Can You Reject Multiple Settlement Letters?
Yes, you can reject all settlements that fail to meet your needs. Do not be afraid of giving up your “last chance” at a settlement: even if the insurer stops offering settlements after repeated rejections, you still have options for recovering compensation, as will be discussed later.
Can You Seek a Settlement Letter After a Wrongful Death?
Yes. If your loved one passed away due to someone else’s carelessness, you have the right to pursue a settlement on their behalf. A wrongful death lawyer can manage your case in much the same way as they would handle a personal injury case:
- Reviewing any settlement letters you receive from the liable party
- Determining the true worth of your case
- Fighting hard for the money your family deserves
What Happens if the Insurer Offers No Settlement Letter?
While insurers often agree to settle cases like yours out of court, there is no guarantee that this will happen in your case. They might refuse to settle, thinking they have a good chance of winning against you at a trial and thereby get out of paying anything.
What happens if you reject a settlement letter and the insurer refuses to make another offer? Your personal injury attorney can take your case to court.
Going to Trial After Rejecting a Settlement Letter
After receiving multiple inadequate offers (or no offers at all), your legal counsel may tell the insurer that you are on the verge of taking your case to court. The prospect of a lengthy trial may be enough to get the settlement letter you want. If not, you can let your attorney take the lead on:
- Filing your personal injury lawsuit with the right court and setting up trial dates
- Selecting jury members who are not prejudiced or unqualified and who will consider your case fairly
- Submitting evidence for the court’s consideration
- Writing and delivering oral arguments, including opening and closing statements
- Questioning and cross-examining all witnesses (and preparing you to testify if you both agree this is a good idea)
- Making sure the defense obeys all laws and court rules and raising objections with the judge if they fail to do so
- Doing everything possible to protect your interests and keeping you updated as the case proceeds
Time Limits on Seeking a Settlement Letter or Jury Award
You have a limited time to go to court after suffering an injury and rejecting a settlement letter. As an example, O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 states that, in general, Georgia residents have two years from the date of the accident to take legal action.
This statute of limitations only refers to the time you have to start, not to finish, a case. You are under no obligation to accept an unfair settlement just to make sure your case ends in less than two years. So long as you get the ball rolling within two years, you are acting within your rights—and you retain the right to reject a settlement letter.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
Should You Reject or Accept Your Settlement Letter?
Kaine Law can help you answer this and other critical questions throughout your case. Call us today for a free case review. Our firm cares about each and every one of our clients as individuals. Our personal injury attorneys can seek awards for your medical expenses, property damage, and pain and suffering.
We will fight for a reasonable settlement or provide legal representation in a trial. We can create a personalized legal strategy for getting you the compensation you need and help you to better understand what happens if you reject a settlement letter.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
