MCCARTHY, ROWDEN & BAKER

Settlement Tactics

One option that your Macon County personal injury attorney may discuss with you is the ability to settle your case. Your Macon County personal injury attorney may inform you of the benefits of settlement, namely saving time and money by avoiding further litigation. However, to make an informed decision about whether to settle, there are a few tactics that your Macon County personal injury attorney might use.

Learning about the Defense Attorneys

Your Macon County personal injury attorney should know about the insurance company involved in your case. Additionally, he or she should also be aware of the Macon County personal injury attorney who commonly handles the cases for the insurance company. Defense firms that represent reasonable carriers may be easier to negotiate with than those firms that represent conservative carriers who rarely decide to settle.

Avoiding Gender Bias

Women make up a large portion of the insurance industry. A Macon County personal injury lawyer should avoid using a “good old boy” approach when dealing with the insurance company. Instead, a Macon County personal injury attorney should approach adjusters in a polite manner so that he or she does not limit a client’s success in resolving the case.

Establishing Trust

Once a Macon County personal injury lawyer determines that the insurance adjuster is someone that can be worked with, he or she will try to establish a trusting relationship. This tactic will help the adjuster to be more amenable to negotiations.

Getting to Know the Adjuster

Because adjusters play such a pivotal role in the successful resolution of your case, a Macon County personal injury lawyer should get to know the adjuster as an individual. Establishing a friendly rapport with the adjuster can benefit the case by creating open conversation between the attorney and the adjuster.

Avoiding Personal Attacks

If an adjuster makes a low settlement offer, a Macon County personal injury attorney should avoid attacking the adjuster personally. Adjusters are often restricted to offer settlements within a certain range.

If you would like information about other effective tactics, contact McCarthy Rowden & Baker at 800-373-6050.