What to Do When Presented with an Extremely Low Settlement Counteroffer
Posted Thursday, May 15, 2014 by Chris Thayer
One of the figures that a Seattle personal injury law firm might interact with most often throughout a client’s personal injury case is an insurance adjuster. Adjusters are in charge of negotiating settlement offers with a plaintiff’s personal injury attorney and are sometimes known for presenting ludicrously minimal settlement offers.
An Example of a Low Offer
Settlement negotiations involve two parties—an insurance adjuster and a qualified Seattle personal injury lawyer. After a personal injury attorney presents a settlement figure, the insurance adjuster can either accept the figure or present a counteroffer. Typically, adjusters try to negotiate the settlement amount down.
For instance, if a Seattle personal injury law firm examines a client’s case and believes the value to fall somewhere between $20,000 and $25,000, the personal injury attorney might demand $38,000. An adjuster can respond in several ways including:
• Agree to pay the $38,000 settlement amount• Offer a reasonable counteroffer such as $20,000• Present an extremely low counteroffer such as $5,000
Possible Explanations for an Unexpectedly Small Counteroffer
Although it can be impossible to know exactly why an insurance adjuster presents a low counteroffer, in general, there are a few possible explanations.
- The insurance adjuster would prefer that the case go to trial.
- The plaintiff and attorneys’ expectations are unreasonable.
- The adjuster’s supervisors are pushing for a small settlement figure.
How a Seattle Personal Injury Lawyer Might Respond to an Absurd Counteroffer
If an insurance adjuster responds to a personal injury lawyer’s initial demand for settlement with an obviously absurd counteroffer, the plaintiff’s personal injury lawyer could pursue any of the following actions.
• Extend a second offer that is smaller than the original demand• Ask to speak with the insurance adjuster’s manager• Work with the insurance adjuster to alter the counteroffer to a more reasonable figure• Choose to pursue a trial
An Experienced Attorney Knows When to Fight a Counteroffer
A knowledgeable Seattle personal injury law firm knows how to respond to absurdly low counteroffers and when it’s best to go to trial. If you’re wondering about the potential value of your personal injury case, don’t wait to call attorney Chris Thayer at (206) 340-2008.