Negotiating a Car Accident Settlement with Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual has a reputation of under-valuating injury claims related to car accidents. To give yourself the best shot at a fair settlement, you need to understand what you’re up against.

Following an automobile accident, it’s necessary to file a claim with either the other driver’s insurance company, or your own. The claims adjuster who is assigned to the case is responsible for attempting to settle the claim. If you weren’t injured and the accident only involved property damage, the process is pretty straight-forward. On the other hand, if you do have an injury claim, understand that like any insurance company, Liberty Mutual will do everything in their power to either deny liability or pay out as little as possible.

Insurance companies make a profit by taking in more in premiums than they pay out in claims. No matter how friendly they may seem over the phone, the insurance adjuster’s goal is to save the company money. Often this is done by attempting to settle and close any and all injury claims as quickly as possible before the victim knows their true damages or wises up and hires an attorney.

Can I settle my case without an attorney?

While there’s no doubt that hiring an attorney can substantially increase your potential payout (car accident attorneys do exist for a reason), you do not necessarily need an attorney to negotiate a car accident settlement with Liberty Mutual. Unfortunately, without leverage against the insurance company, do not expect them to offer anything close to the actual value of your damages.

In fact, many people have reported that Liberty Mutual is more stubborn about settling claims than other insurance companies. As a result, they may give you a “take it or leave it” ultimatum, and may not be willing to negotiate at all.

Remember that once you agree to a settlement, you have waived your right to pursue further compensation. As such, you should not even approach the subject until you have fully completed your medical treatment and have a good idea of your actual losses.

The following tips can also help when it comes to negotiating a car accident settlement with Liberty Mutual:

1. Know the true value of your claim before attempting to negotiate a settlement. To as great a degree as possible, provide Liberty Mutual with a breakdown of the expenses you have already incurred, your lost wages, what you expect to pay or lose in the future, and any losses that may be difficult to quantify (e.g., pain and suffering, disfigurement, etc). If you are uncertain of any amount, it is generally better to overestimate (within reason); you can always reduce the amount later if necessary. Provide these totals—and a demand amount—to the adjuster in writing.
2. Expect your first settlement request to be rejected. In the majority of cases, insurance adjusters will reject an initial settlement request by default. You need to keep in mind that the adjuster works for Liberty Mutual and wants to settle the claim for the lowest possible amount. Their job may even depend on it.
3. Do not be overanxious and jump at the first settlement offer. In all likelihood, your adjuster will make a counteroffer that appears unreasonably low. This is just a test; the adjuster is trying to find out if you know what you are doing and whether you are looking to settle quickly. Don’t believe them when they say “this is the most we’re prepared to offer.” They’re almost certainly bluffing.
4. Make note of any facts and circumstances that may be favorable to your case. While your insurance adjuster probably knows the basic facts surrounding your case, he or she is probably not aware how your injury has affected your life or the extent of your pain. It is important to make sure the adjuster is aware of all aspects surrounding your case, as this can have a significant effect on the value of your case.

Is it worth it to hire an attorney?

Many people are afraid to hire an attorney following a car accident simply because they’ve never done so before. Almost everyone has had to file an accident claim with their insurance company at some point, but very few understand that injury claims are handled ENTIRELY different than property damage claims.

It’s important to remember that personal injury lawyers exist for a reason. If they didn’t provide a valuable service, they wouldn’t stay in business. Unfortunately, insurance companies hold all the cards when it comes to paying a claim. If you don’t have an attorney or you’ve never beaten the insurance company in court before, they simply have no reason fairly negotiate. They have a team of attorneys ready to go to battle, and they do this every single day. Even if you hope to handle this all on your own, you should strongly consider at least seeking out a free consultation with an attorney. It can’t hurt, and they may provide you with some valuable information.

The great news is that at 1-800-ATTORNEY, we offer free consultations by phone or email. Additionally, all of our attorneys work on contingency. This means that you literally never risk a single penny of your own money to have us pursue your claim; you simply hire us with a signature. If for some reason we’re unable to win your case and put money in your pocket, you walk away without owing anything in attorneys fees.

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