You have been involved in a car accident. Before you realize it, you are approached by the other party. They present you with the offer of compromise. The question is what do you do, accept it or refuse it?
Many people are faced with this problem on a daily basis. It is important to understand what this offer means, and what are the downside and benefits of accepting or refusing the offer.
Here is everything you should know about the offer of compromise, and whether or not you should accept it after a car accident.
What Are You Offered?
The first thing that you should always consider (in the presence of your attorney) is the offer itself. Is it good enough to cover for all your damages? Are you getting compensated for everything, or you still have to pay for something once you accept the offer?
Understanding the situation you are in is the key to winning the case. In your case, in order to obtain the highest “offer” possible, you want to discuss your situation with your attorney first and see whether or not you are in a position to negotiate the deal (in hopes of getting a better one), or reject it and face the penalties.
If you do not have an attorney advise you to get one immediately. San Francisco car crash attorneys are willing to help you with your case; call offices right after the accident and schedule your free consultation.
The “Consequences” of Denying the Offer
If you by any chance deny the offer, for whatever reason, there could be consequences. In the majority of cases, the rejecting party (you) has to pay the court costs of the party offering the compromise. This is usually the outcome if the rejecting party is unsuccessful at trial. However, if you are successful, then you have nothing to worry about.
Keep in mind that court fees can be quite expensive. Before you choose to accept or refuse a settlement offer (usually made during or before a lawsuit), speak with your attorney and analyze your entire case thoroughly. If there is even a slight chance that you may fail at trial, you may want to consider settling before the trial and accepting the initial offer of compromise. Again, you have to consider many different factors, and once you put everything on a piece of paper, it will be a lot easier for you and your attorney to analyze the situation you are in.
Many people do not hire an attorney for one reason – afraid to deal with the attorney’s costs, which are believed to be extremely high. Do not be one of those people. If you have any worries, consult with Car accident attorneys in San Franciso and learn everything about the attorney’s fees, your case, the offer of compromise and everything else concerning your case. Give a call right after the accident to maximize your odds of obtaining the highest settlement possible.
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