The claimants that negotiate with an insurance adjuster seldom have that same adjuster’s negotiating skills. Still, by following a few simple guidelines, each of them should feel assured of receiving an undeniably fair settlement.
Advice on composing the demand letter
During the letter’s composition, decide on the lowest offer that you would find acceptable. Do not mention the same figure in the letter that states your demand. Instead, retain that particular figure in your mind.
What is the point to deciding on such a number, if you do not intend to use it? That number in your mind must be compared to each of the offers that are presented by the insurance company. There is a chance, that such a comparison could push you to increase or decrease the monetary amount in what you had perceived as the lowest acceptable offer.
Tips to follow during the negotiations
Never accept the insurance company’s first offer. Your refusal should drive home an important point. It should showcase the fact that you stand willing to be patient, with respect to the length of time you might have to wait, before getting compensated for your losses.
If the initial offer is exceedingly low, then do not hesitate to call the adjuster, and seek an explanation for the presentation of such a low figure. If the insurance company needs some more information, then answer their request, and do so while stating your own counteroffer.
Take advantage of this opportunity to drive home an emotional point. Once a case has advanced to the trial stage, the claimant turned plaintiff no longer has the chance to play with the listener’s emotions. No judge allows emotional displays in the courtroom.
If you have suffered from the negative effects of your injury, let the Personal Injury Lawyer in Edmonton share that fact with the adjuster. Allow the same adjuster to gain a greater insight into the extent and nature of your dissatisfaction.
Never make more than one single counteroffer, when responding to a bid from the insurance company. Instead, consider the possible meaning of that most recent bid/offer. It could highlight the need for you to confront the insurance company, and do so by introducing a pressure tactic, such as the filing of a lawsuit.
Although claimants ought to exercise patience, each of them should also be persistent. Hence, adjusters should not be allowed to let ongoing negotiations stall. That is not an approach that qualifies as a smart adjuster’s strategy. In fact, adjusters that have chosen to utilize such a strategy have invited the introduction of an unwanted response from the other side.
That response might take the form of a personal injury lawsuit. In other words, be patient, but also stand prepared to file a lawsuit.