Why Do Insurance Companies Offer Lowball Settlements?
When you are recovering from injuries caused by someone else’s actions, the last thing you expect is for an insurance company to minimize your pain and suffering with an inadequate settlement offer. Unfortunately, receiving a lowball settlement offer is an all-too-common experience for injury victims across California, leaving many wondering why insurance companies seem determined to undervalue legitimate claims and what they can do to secure fair compensation.
At Younglove Law Group, we understand the frustration and financial stress that comes with receiving settlement offers that fail to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. Our experienced attorneys have successfully recovered over $50 million for injured clients throughout California, and we know exactly why insurance companies make lowball offers and how to fight back effectively to get you the compensation you deserve.
Insurance Companies Prioritize Profits Over People
The primary reason insurance companies offer lowball settlements has nothing to do with the merits of your case and everything to do with their business model. Car accident victims and others injured due to another party’s actions often discover that insurance companies are publicly traded corporations with shareholders who expect consistent profits quarter after quarter.
Every dollar an insurance company pays out in claims directly reduces their profit margins. This creates a powerful incentive for adjusters and claims representatives to minimize payouts whenever possible, regardless of how legitimate your injuries may be. Insurance companies have entire departments dedicated to finding ways to reduce claim values, and they often view your settlement negotiations as an opportunity to protect their bottom line rather than provide fair compensation for your losses.
The pressure to keep claim payouts low extends throughout the entire insurance company hierarchy. Adjusters are often evaluated based on how much money they save the company, creating a system where offering fair settlements can actually hurt their job performance reviews and advancement opportunities.
Common Tactics Used to Justify Low Settlement Offers
Insurance companies employ numerous strategies to make their lowball offers seem reasonable or to pressure you into accepting inadequate compensation. One of the most common tactics involves questioning the extent of your injuries, even when you have substantial medical documentation supporting your claim.
Adjusters may suggest that your injuries were pre-existing conditions, that you are exaggerating your symptoms, or that your medical treatment was unnecessary or excessive. They might also argue that you could have prevented some of your injuries by seeking treatment sooner or that you contributed to the accident in some way, even when the evidence clearly shows their insured was at fault.
Another frequent approach involves rushing you to settle before you have fully recovered or understand the long-term implications of your injuries. Insurance companies know that traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and other serious conditions can have lasting effects that may not be immediately apparent, so they try to close your claim quickly before the full extent of your damages becomes clear.
Insurance companies also commonly use the following tactics to reduce settlement amounts:
- Disputing the necessity of certain medical treatments or procedures
- Claiming that gaps in your medical treatment indicate your injuries were not serious
- Arguing that you returned to work or normal activities too quickly for someone with genuine injuries
- Suggesting that your medical providers are inflating bills or recommending unnecessary care
- Using surveillance footage or social media posts taken out of context to undermine your credibility
Each of these tactics is designed to create doubt about your claim and give the insurance company justification for offering less money than your case is actually worth.
How Settlement Values Are Actually Calculated
Understanding how insurance companies determine settlement values can help you recognize when an offer is unreasonably low. Legitimate settlement calculations should account for both economic and non-economic damages, including current and future medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
However, insurance companies often use computer programs and databases to generate initial settlement offers, which typically produce values well below what a case is actually worth. These automated systems cannot account for the unique circumstances of your situation or the full impact your injuries have had on your life and relationships.
Professional insurance adjusters know that these initial computer-generated offers are inadequate, but they use them as starting points for negotiations anyway. This practice allows them to claim they are following objective criteria while still significantly undervaluing claims. Motorcycle accident victims and others with serious injuries often receive offers that cover only a fraction of their actual medical bills, let alone compensation for pain, suffering, and other damages.
Contact Younglove Law Group for Fair Settlement Negotiations
Do not let insurance companies take advantage of you during one of the most difficult times in your life. The attorneys at Younglove Law Group have extensive experience dealing with insurance company tactics and know how to build strong cases that compel fair settlement offers. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorneys’ fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Our track record speaks for itself, with over 20 years of combined experience and recognition as Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys. We provide personalized attention to every client while maintaining the resources and experience necessary to take on major insurance companies. Contact Younglove Law Group today at (949) 691-3660 or get in touch with us to schedule your free consultation and learn how we can help you fight for the fair settlement you deserve.
