How to Negotiate a Settlement With State Farm

Facing any insurance company is intimidating, especially after you’ve been in a car accident and you’re physically and mentally vulnerable. So, facing an insurance company like State Farm can be even more difficult without legal help. 

Our team of car accident lawyers in Atlanta at John Foy & Associates explains how to negotiate a settlement with State Farm after suffering injuries in a car accident. Read on to learn more about the negotiation process and how our team can help you.

What Can You Expect From State Farm During Negotiations?

When negotiating with State Farm after a car accident, be prepared for potential tactics designed to undervalue your claim. State Farm is most likely to use the following tactics:

• Initial lowball settlement offers that do not fully cover your medical bills and lost wages. State Farm is known for starting negotiations far below fair value.
• Denial or downplaying of injuries listed in medical records. Insurance adjusters may argue that reported injuries were pre-existing or not related to the accident.
• Long delays and stalling tactics during negotiations encourage accepting an early low offer. An attorney can apply pressure to keep negotiations moving.
• Refusal to reasonably reconsider offers even after providing additional evidence of damages. Our lawyers have methods to counter unreasonable bargaining positions.

State Farm has also been criticized for its mishandling of claims for natural disasters in various states across the country, such as Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi. State Farm’s tactics extend to every type of accident, including car accidents, which is why it’s essential to have an experienced car accident lawyer in Atlanta represent you.

Get an Evaluation of Your Damages

Before you enter into any negotiations with State Farm, you should be aware of the value of the damages you’ve suffered. By knowing how much your car accident case is worth, you’ll have an advantage over the insurance adjuster, and you can confidently decline any lowball offers. 

The easiest way to get an evaluation of your damages is to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our car accident attorneys in Atlanta. In the consultation, we take a look at each of the losses you’ve suffered and assign a monetary value to them. Some of the most common damages you could be eligible to recover include: 

• Medical expenses: You may be able to recover past and future costs of doctor visits, surgeries, procedures, medications, rehabilitation therapies, and any other medical treatment required as a result of injuries from the accident.
• Lost wages: Recovery can include money lost from being unable to work due to medical care, treatment, doctor visits, therapy, and recovery time needed after the accident caused injuries that prevented you from working.
• Pain and suffering: Damages may encompass compensation for any physical and emotional distress and suffering experienced as a direct result of injuries from the accident.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: The inability to participate in hobbies, activities, and life routines you previously enjoyed because of limitations from accident injuries could warrant recovery.
• Disfigurement or scarring: You may receive money for any permanent disfigurement, scarring, or other visible impairments caused by injuries from the accident.
• Property damage: Recovery may cover repair or replacement costs for vehicles, property, or personal belongings damaged in the accident.

During your consultation, you can also get answers to any questions you have.

Gather Your Medical Records and Bills

When preparing to negotiate with any insurance company, you should collect all documentation related to your injuries and treatment from the accident. State Farm will attempt to minimize your damages, so having thorough medical evidence is important to achieve a fair settlement.

Request copies of:

• Hospital and emergency room records for initial care
• Reports from any diagnostic tests such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs
• Records from follow-up doctor visits and therapy treatments
• Medication prescriptions
• Receipts for medical bills accrued to date

Your car accident attorney in Atlanta at John Foy & Associates can assist you by sending official records requests directly to providers on your behalf. State Farm has been known to drag its feet filling such requests, so starting the collection process early is advised.

The volume of paperwork may feel overwhelming, but providing a complete picture of your medical course and costs strengthens your attorney’s hand in negotiations. State Farm adjusters look for any reason to reduce claim value, so it’s essential to provide as much detail as possible. A lawyer can also help obtain vital records that providers fail to supply.

Let Your Atlanta Personal Injury Team Take the Lead in Communicating

When it’s time to enter negotiations, make sure you have your Atlanta personal injury lawyer with you. Talking with insurance companies like State Farm is intimidating, and it will twist your words for any chance of paying a lower settlement or not paying at all. Your personal injury attorney can handle the negotiation and advocate for you. 

Our team has been helping injured people deal with State Farm for over 25 years and recovering sufficient settlements. We know how to spot unfair practices and protect you from being taken advantage of.

If you were to choose to meet with State Farm insurance adjusters without one of our attorneys, you could end up with a settlement that doesn’t cover your losses. This is why it’s so important to hire a legal advocate for your Atlanta car accident case.

What Happens if State Farm Doesn’t Offer a Fair Settlement?

If, after negotiation efforts, the insurance company doesn’t offer you a settlement that covers all the damages you’ve suffered, our personal injury attorneys in Atlanta will continue to pursue compensation and justice for you. 

The first step is typically filing a car accident lawsuit against the at-fault party in civil court. This puts pressure on State Farm to mediate in good faith or proceed to a judge or jury trial.

Even the threat of litigation often prompts a higher settlement offer as dispute costs mount for State Farm. If mediation again fails, a trial allows you to present evidence to a third party to decide the case’s merits and the proper value.

At trial, your attorney can highlight weaknesses in State Farm’s defense and arguments for minimizing the claim. Witnesses, records, and expert testimony all factor into whether the court finds their liability and awards you damages.

Learn More About Negotiating an Accident Settlement With State Farm

At John Foy & Associates, our team of Atlanta personal injury lawyers can help you understand how to negotiate successfully with State Farm for a car accident settlement. We’ll be there for you throughout the process and can help you recover the settlement you qualify for. 

Contact us to learn more about successfully negotiating settlements with State Farm insurance adjusters.