After a car accident in New Hampshire, it is very likely an insurance company will contact you. It might send a letter or s representative may call you on the phone. If the insurance company knows that its driver was liable, then it will want to get you to agree to a settlement quickly. Companies usually offer you a nice sum of money and promise a quick payment to get you to settle. In return, you have to agree not to sue over the accident. That’s a huge commitment, and one you probably should not agree to.

According to The Nest, an insurance company will usually extend a low offer in that first settlement attempt. They bank on the fact that you have little experience with settling accident claims so you will not know it is a low-ball offer. You should not take this first offer.

You will need to negotiate. This is fine to do on your own if you did not suffer serious injuries or have a large loss of property. In those cases, you need someone who knows the law to assist you and ensure you get what is rightfully due to you. If you had a slight loss, then you may negotiate on your own, but do keep in mind that you will have to be willing to go back and forth with the company to get a fair settlement.

Remember that once you settle, you lose all rights to seek further damages or make other claims from this incident. So, you have to be sure that you make the right decision.

Settling a car accident claim is very common. However, it also requires knowing how to negotiate so the insurance company does not get away paying less than they should have. This information is for education. It is not legal advice.