FREE CONSULTATIONS 856.983.8695

Should You Accept a Settlement from the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Company After a South New Jersey Car Accident?

Philip Ciprietti, NJ Car & Truck Accident Lawyer

Philip Ciprietti offers clients a genuine interest in their well-being and success and places clients’ interests first in all matters. Since 1982, Mr. Ciprietti has been certified by the NJ Supreme Court as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney.

Review: "His commitment and his willingness to go the extra mile, to fight hard for you make Phil an outstanding attorney. He is the one you want on your side." Read more testimonials.

After auto accidents in South Jersey, involved parties report their car, truck or pedestrian accidents to their auto insurance companies to report the accidents. The insurance companies will then open a claim. There are two types of claims: a PIP or medical benefits claim and a liability claim.

A PIP claim pays for the insureds’ medical bills related to the car accidents regardless of who caused the accidents. Thus, a driver who did not cause an accident will have to make a PIP claim with his OWN insurance company and not with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

Learn more about NJ PIP claimsInjured in a NJ Car Accident? – The Basics of Medical Benefit (PIP) Claims

Cherry Hill, Marlton, South New Jersey car accident injury lawyerA liability claim is an injured driver, passenger or pedestrian’s claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company for costs associated with their injuries and damages. If a driver is allegedly at fault and also injured, then his insurance company will open both a PIP claim for the at-fault driver and a liability claim for the injured victims.

Oftentimes, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will contact injured victims soon after the accident. They will ask the victims about the accident, their injuries, etc. They may also offer a settlement during the conversation or call back soon after the initial contact to offer a settlement.

Most people don’t want to be involved in lawsuits and may think that they can settle the case on their own. Thus, they may accept the settlement. However, this is a mistake. When insurance companies offer quick settlements, it is often a tactic to get injured victims to settle for less than their claims are worth. Once a settlement is accepted, the injured victims can no longer sue the at-fault driver for additional compensation.

For instance, a driver is t-boned while driving through an intersection in Cherry Hill, NJ. He was not at fault. Rather the at-fault driver ran a red light and caused the collision. The driver is injured and feels pain in his back and neck immediately after the accident. He is transported to the emergency room where he was given muscle relaxers and pain medicine and told to follow-up with his primary doctor. The injured driver makes an appointment with his doctor who can see him in 2 weeks.

A few days after the accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance company calls and asks the driver about his injuries. The driver tells them that he has neck and back pain and needs to see his primary doctor. The insurance company then offers $3,000 to settle the case.

The driver decides that it seems like his back and neck pain are okay and will probably get better in a few days. He decides to take the offer and signs a release.

However, as days pass, the pain in his neck and back get worse after he returns to his normal activities, i.e., housework, going to the gym, playing with his kids, etc. He also starts to feel numbness down his leg. He finally sees his primary doctor who orders an MRI of his neck and back. The diagnostic results show that he has 2 herniated discs in his spine, one in his neck and one in his lower back. As a result, he needs several months of physical therapy and a series of epidural shots in his neck and back to relieve his pain.

In this situation, the driver’s injuries and damages exceed $3,000. However, he cannot sue the at-fault driver for his injuries because he settled the claim already.

Therefore, it is crucial for injured victims to get legal advice before talking to the other driver’s insurance company. Furthermore, injured victims are under no obligation to talk to the other driver’s insurance company. In fact, they shouldn’t if they have a lawyer. Many times, what the victim says to the other driver’s insurance company may be used later in the litigation process.

The insurance company may call every day after a settlement is offered and pressure victims to settle, but victims are under no obligation to accept the settlement offer.

Even if a victim decides to handle the claim and negotiate with other driver’s insurance company, they should always consult with an experienced NJ car accident lawyer before accepting any settlement offer. Once an offer is accepted, there is no turning back. The victim does not have any legal right to pursue a NJ car accident lawsuit later.

Every South Jersey car accident case is different. The fair amount of compensation for each case also varies depending on injuries, recovery time, person’s age, etc. Only an experienced car accident lawyer can help victims assess their case.

Related: Know Your Legal Rights After Being Injured in a NJ Car Accident

FREE Consultations – 856.983.8695

DISCLAIMER: This website does not create any attorney-client relationship or provide legal advice.  Read full disclaimer at the bottom of this page.

Car Accident Law Articles

How to Win a New Jersey Car Accident Lawsuit (Part 2)

In order to win a NJ car or truck accident lawsuit filed in Cherry Hill, Marlton or Camden, South New Jersey or in northern parts of New Jersey, injured parties must prove certain elements as discussed in part 1 of this article.  Part 1 of the article also discussed...

New Jersey Car Accidents Increased in the Winter Months from November 2013-February 2014

Last Thursday was the first day of spring, and many residents in New Jersey are happy that winter is officially over.  This winter has wreaked havoc on New Jersey roadways and highways with multiple serious car, truck and bus accidents and pile-ups. Related: Wintry...

Comparative Negligence- What Does it Have to do with NJ Car Accidents?

In New Jersey car accidents, someone is usually at fault. In a rear-end accident, the driver who hits the car ahead of them is generally at fault. A driver who doesn't stop at a stop sign and hits another vehicle in the intersection is also generally at fault....

New Jersey Car Accidents & Verbal Threshold – Can Injured Car Accident Victims Recover Damages? (Part 2)

Car and truck accident victims, who are subject to verbal threshold, may not know that they may still bring lawsuits against negligent drivers so long as their injuries fall under one of the injury categories pursuant to New Jersey's Automobile Insurance Cost...

Recovering Medical Expenses after Suffering an Injury in a NJ Bus Accident (Part 1)

Whether it is going to work, a mall, or a grocery store, many NJ residents take public transportation every day, like NJ Transit, Megabus, or Greyhound.  However, bus accidents also happen and passengers can get seriously injured.  After a bus accident in NJ, many...

FREE CONSULTATIONS

    Spam:  

    *No attorney-client relationship is created by use of this email form. Do not email confidential or time-sensitive information. Call the firm for immediate assistance.

    OUR OFFICE

    79 S. Maple Avenue
    Marlton, NJ 08053
    Phone: 856.983.8695
    Fax: 856.983.0015
    Toll Free: 800.281.8695

    Google Map/Directions