Settling a Car Accident Claim with Safeco Insurance

How to negotiate a car accident settlement with Safeco.

Following an auto accident injury, you may have realized that negotiating a settlement with Safeco is not as easy as you thought it would be. The process is stressful, time-consuming, confusing, and very one-sided. Without the leverage of an attorney, the victim is often at the mercy of the insurance company.

Safeco handles these types of claims on a daily basis, and as such, they know which tactics work to their advantage. If the victim doesn't have a lawyer, the insurance company knows they hold the upper hand. So how do you give yourself the best chance at reaching a fair settlement with Safeco Insurance?

Handling your own case vs hiring a lawyer.

Almost everyone has been involved in a non-injury car accident at some point in their lives. While the property damage claims process can be frustrating at times, it's also relatively simple with no need for an attorney. On the other hand, if you've had to deal with a car accident injury claim before, you know that the process will be ugly, extremely frustrating, and completely unfair.

The insurance company holds all the leverage when it comes to a claim. They get to decide whether or not they will accept liability, whether or not you were also partially to blame for the collision, whether or not your injuries were actually caused by the accident or not, and they get to decide whether or not to offer you a settlement (and how much they're willing to offer).

By law, Safeco owes you nothing unless a court order compels them to compensate you. The only reason insurance companies offer settlements is to prevent the victim from hiring a lawyer and taking them to court. Unfortunately, they also know that if you haven't hired a lawyer yet, you're likely to settle for WAY less than you're actually owed.

Most people are hesitant to hire a lawyer because "lawyers are expensive," but the truth is that hiring a lawyer to handle your claim from beginning to end actually costs you nothing out of pocket. While some types of lawyers charge by the hour or require a retainer, that's not at all how personal injury attorneys operate.

Our car accident attorneys work on contingency, meaning they only earn a fee if they win your case and put money in your pocket. We've been helping people in your exact situation for nearly 30 years, and it's all we do. Even if you're fundamentally against the idea of hiring a lawyer, there's no harm in calling for a free consultation. We're happy to look into the facts of your case and advise you of your options moving forward at no cost.

Safeco is not on your side.

Insurance companies profit by paying out less on claims than they take in in premiums. Since personal injury claims are often subjective in nature and valued much higher than property damage claims, insurance companies will do everything in their power to either deny liability, limit the value of your claim, or simply refuse to budge from their insultingly-low settlement offer.

Safeco Insurance will prey on the fact that you don’t know how the claims process works, and try to lowball you or convince you that a certain amount of money, all factors considered, is all they're able to offer. In addition, they delay claims in the hopes that they will exhaust your patience to the point of your becoming desperate for any payout, which means more money in their pocket, and less in yours.

Here are a few common deceptive tactics used by Safeco Insurance:

1. Failing to return an injured claimants calls.
2. Taking months to investigate or process your claim.
3. Shuttling claimants around from department to department.
4. Bombarding a claimant with documentation that’s written in hard-to-understand legalese.
5. Insinuating that you had a part to play in the accident.

Insurance companies such as Safeco might even go as far as delving into your medical history to find something they can cherry pick and use against you, stating that you had a preexisting condition or previous accident which caused the injuries you claim were a result of the car crash.

In addition, they may try and have you sign documents soon after your accident that are designed to prevent you from seeking additional compensation once the extent of your injuries are fully-known. If (after a few weeks of little improvement) your doctor recommends additional treatment such as surgery or physical therapy, guess what? The insurance company has a signed piece of paper saying that you've given up your right to seek any additional monies.

Consider the Benefits of Hiring an Attorney

Hiring an attorney on a no-win, no-fee basis can be beneficial in several ways. Not only is there no financial risk to you, but statistics show that those who hire an attorney receive settlements over 300% higher on average than those who don't.

If you have questions or would like to discuss case, contact us for a free consultation at (214) 651-6100 or email us using the contact form found on this page. You're under no obligation to make a decision right away, but we're happy to evaluate your case for no cost and explain your options moving forward. We look forward to speaking with you.