Quick Answer: Can I Refuse an Insurance Company’s Offer?Yes. You always have the right to refuse an insurance company’s offer. Initial offers usually don’t cover future medical care and other losses.
You always have the right to refuse an insurance company’s offer for your personal injury claim in New Hampshire. A settlement offer is a proposal, not a final decision, and you don’t have to accept it just because the insurer says it’s fair or the best it can do.
The first offer likely won’t reflect the full value of your losses, especially if you need future medical care, have missed work, or are dealing with pain and suffering.
A New Hampshire personal injury attorney can review the offer, evaluate your damages, and help you decide whether accepting, rejecting, or negotiating makes sense.
Key Takeaways for Refusing an Insurance Company’s Offer
- Adjusters treat the initial settlement check as a starting point rather than a final decision.
- Saying no to a low figure can force the insurance adjuster to re-evaluate your claim and review your counteroffer.
- Signing a settlement release form closes your case forever and prevents you from seeking further money later.
- An attorney investigates your injuries to build the evidence needed to challenge a lowball amount and pursue a fair resolution.
Can You Counter a Low Settlement Offer?
You can counter a low settlement offer if it doesn’t reflect the full value of your personal injury claim. The insurance company’s first offer may seem like a quick solution, but it often protects the insurer more than the injured person.
A fair settlement should account for both financial losses and the personal impact of the injury. That may include future medical bills, lost wages, physical therapy, prescriptions, pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
These damages can be difficult to value on your own, especially when the injury affects your daily life long after the bills start coming in. A personal injury attorney can review your offer, calculate your damages, and respond with a counteroffer that better reflects what your claim may be worth.
Why Do Insurance Companies Make Low First Offers?
Insurance companies make low first offers in personal injury claims because they want to settle cases for as little money as possible. When you work with an attorney, the first offer usually serves as a starting point, not a full or fair evaluation of your losses.
Common reasons include:
- Protecting Profits: Insurance companies are businesses, and paying less on claims helps protect their bottom line.
- Testing Your Resolve: The adjuster may want to see whether you know your rights or understand what your claim is worth.
- Missing Information: The first offer may come before your medical records, long-term prognosis, lost income, or future care needs are clear.
- Using Financial Pressure: Insurers know accident victims have medical bills and missed paychecks, which may make a quick check feel tempting.
What Happens After I Refuse the Insurance Company’s Offer?
Your claim doesn’t end when you refuse the insurance company’s offer. Instead, the case usually moves into negotiation, where you or your attorney can explain why the offer doesn’t reflect the full value of your damages.
Insurers often take negotiations more seriously when a New Hampshire personal injury attorney is involved because they know experienced lawyers recognize lowball tactics.
Having legal representation puts real pressure on the insurer to negotiate fairly because a law firm brings the credible threat of a lawsuit if the company refuses to make a reasonable offer.
The next steps after refusing a settlement offer usually include:
- Demand Letter: Your attorney sends a demand letter that explains liability, your injuries, your medical treatment, and the compensation you’re seeking.
- Supporting Evidence: Your legal team conducts an investigation into the accident. Your lawyer uses medical bills, police reports, wage loss records, photos of the accident, and other evidence to show why you need more compensation.
- Counteroffer: The insurance company may respond with a higher offer, deny the claim, or continue disputing fault and damages.
- Negotiation: Your attorney and the adjuster may go back and forth until they reach a fair settlement or decide whether a lawsuit makes sense.
FAQ for Refusing an Insurance Company’s Offer
What Is the Deadline for Filing a Personal Injury Claim in New Hampshire?
In New Hampshire, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is three years from the date of the injury. This is a strict deadline, and if you fail to file a lawsuit within this period, you’ll likely lose your right to pursue compensation forever.
Can I Refuse an Insurance Company’s Offer if I Share Blame for the Accident?
You can refuse an insurance company’s offer even if you may share some blame for the accident. In New Hampshire, you may still recover damages as long as you’re not 51% or more at fault, but your compensation can be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Does Rejecting an Offer Damage My Relationship With the Insurance Company?
Rejecting an offer shouldn’t damage your relationship with the insurance company. Injury claims are business negotiations, and adjusters expect settlement offers to be reviewed, rejected, or countered. If the first offer is too low, refusing it can be a necessary step toward a fair settlement.
Let Coates Law Office Protect Your Rights and Compensation
Bradford H.
Coates, New Hampshire Personal Injury Attorney
When an insurance company’s offer doesn’t reflect the reality of your injuries, you don’t have to take it. You have the right to demand fair compensation. Managing the personal injury process can be difficult, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Coates Law Office can help you understand the true value of your claim and handle the negotiations for you. For a free and confidential consultation, call (603) 262-5766 or complete the online form to learn about the value of your claim.