Settlement Negotiations Personal Injury South Carolina
If you’re recovering from an accident, the idea of dealing with insurance settlement talks can be stressful. Many people worry they’ll accept an offer that’s too low or miss something important in the paperwork. At Jung Disability and Injury Advocates, we guide injury clients in Mount Pleasant, Charleston, and across South Carolina through every phase of the settlement process—making sure terms are clear, documented, and aligned with your real needs.
How Settlement Negotiations Work in a Personal Injury Case
Settlement is a process—not a single offer. Here’s what to expect:
First, the insurer will evaluate your claim based on medical records, bills, and any evidence of lost wages or pain and suffering. We help you organize and submit all the right documentation.
Next, we prepare a demand letter that lays out your case, lists your damages, and states a settlement amount that matches your losses. This document is the starting point for negotiations.
Insurance adjusters often respond with a counteroffer—sometimes much lower than your actual costs. They may question your medical care, challenge time off work, or suggest you’re partly at fault. Our team fields all calls and written communications, so you don’t have to deal with pressure or back-and-forth.
Negotiations may take several rounds. We explain each new offer, highlight the terms, and compare them to your needs for both current and future medical care, lost wages, and other damages.
When a fair settlement is reached, you’ll be asked to sign a release. Before you sign, we review the language for any hidden terms or waivers—making sure you’re not giving up rights you still need, and that all liens or outstanding bills are addressed.
Should I Accept the First Settlement Offer?
Most of the time, the answer is no. First offers from insurers are usually too low, hoping you’ll accept quickly. We review every offer against your medical treatment, future needs, and documentation—so you don’t settle for less than you deserve.
What Is a Demand Letter?
A demand letter is a written statement to the insurance company outlining the facts of your case, a summary of your injuries and expenses, and a specific dollar amount you believe is fair for settlement. It sets the negotiation process in motion and serves as a record of your claim.
What Should I Watch For Before Signing a Settlement?
- Release language: Make sure you’re not waiving future claims for unrelated issues.
- Future medical care: Does the settlement account for all treatment you may still need?
- Liens: Are hospital bills or insurance liens already subtracted from the offer, or do you still owe those after settlement?
- Tax or government benefit impacts: Rare, but can matter in certain cases.
We walk you through all paperwork in plain English so you know exactly what you’re agreeing to.