{"id":12870,"date":"2021-12-23T08:15:38","date_gmt":"2021-12-23T13:15:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sinklaw.com\/?page_id=12870"},"modified":"2026-06-12T15:49:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T19:49:57","slug":"what-to-expect","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sinklaw.com\/personal-injury\/what-to-expect\/","title":{"rendered":"Personal Injury Claim Expectations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After filing a personal injury claim, you shouldn\u2019t expect the unexpected. From the very beginning, you should know what\u2019s going to happen. Our law firm prides itself on educating injured claimants about the financial recovery process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here, we\u2019ll provide some basic information about what to expect after we file your claim. If you have any case-specific questions, we recommend consulting our legal team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>The Insurance Company Will Request Supporting Evidence<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can\u2019t file a claim with the insurer and immediately expect fair compensation. You need evidence to demonstrate your accident\u2019s cause, your injuries\u2019 severity, and other related factors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evidence may include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your written testimony\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dashcam footage\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traffic camera recordings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your medical records<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Statements from accident reconstruction experts and healthcare professionals\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your injury-related invoices and receipts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The police report\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This evidence should prove that because of another party\u2019s actions, you suffered harm in a collision and deserve compensation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>The Insurance Company Will Offer a Settlement as Soon as Possible<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a perfect world, insurance companies would carefully review each claimant\u2019s situation before extending an offer. However, this doesn\u2019t always happen. The claims adjuster will review your case\u2019s paperwork and enter some numbers into the computer. From there, they may offer you the smallest settlement possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We know you\u2019re eager to resolve your case. Yet, the first offer does not always account for your past, ongoing, and future damages. It may be a test to see if you\u2019ll accept less than you deserve.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You have the right to turn down unfair offers\u2013\u2013regardless of what the claims adjuster says. Our legal team can calculate your losses and consult with experts to determine what your case is worth. Then, we\u2019ll fight for what you\u2019re owed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>The At-Fault Party May Offer You Compensation<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After your car accident, the other driver might discourage you from filing a claim. Instead, they may offer you cash in exchange for not reporting the accident.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This will not work to your advantage. First, you may not understand your case\u2019s value when accepting this money. Secondly, accepting cash can complicate the claims process and may prevent you from seeking additional funds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We recommend going through the standard claims process, even if the at-fault driver offers you money.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>The Insurance Company May Blame You for the Accident<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both Georgia and South Carolina operate on a comparative negligence system. If you contributed to the accident, this can reduce your final settlement or court award.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To reduce your settlement, the insurer may unjustly blame you for the accident. It might even claim to have substantial evidence despite having nothing. Our lawyers can review your case and determine whether any allegations of fault are true.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>The Insurance Company Will Ask for a Recorded Statement<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The insurance adjuster will likely call you soon after the accident to get your side of the story. You\u2019re not required to give a recorded statement by law. A recorded statement only benefits the insurance company and gives the adjuster reasons to devalue your case.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By consenting to a recorded statement, you risk:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having your words taken out of context\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allowing the claims adjuster to edit the recording\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Answering a question incorrectly\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oversharing\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unknowingly discrediting your condition\u2019s severity\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your lawyer can give the claims adjuster the information they need. They do not need a recorded statement to process your claim.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Your Settlement Should Account for Each of Your Losses<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your claim ends the moment you accept an offer\u2013\u2013even if you accepted a low amount. Ideally, your collision shouldn\u2019t leave you with any out-of-pocket expenses. Your settlement should comprise:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All your medical bills, including future treatments<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Income-related losses, including lost wages, employee benefits, and tips\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Property damage expenses, including your car\u2019s diminished value\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pain and suffering\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cost of renovating your home to accommodate a physical disability\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We can evaluate your case\u2019s value and advise you on any potential offers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>The Insurer May Refuse to Settle<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our experience tells us one thing: most injury cases settle through insurance claims. However, not all insurance companies want to settle. In this situation, you can file a lawsuit against the at-fault motorist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here, you can seek compensation beyond the liable policy\u2019s limits. This process involves:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Filing your lawsuit\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding your losses\u2019 value\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abiding by state and federal courtroom procedure\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communicating with the involved parties, including the defendant\u2019s legal team\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advocating for your rights<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Demonstrating your accident\u2019s cause\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Settling Your Case Can Take Some Time<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ideally, we can file your claim and recoup compensation within days. However, it all depends on your case\u2019s strength and the liable insurer\u2019s cooperation. It may take days, weeks, or months to resolve your case. It may take longer if we file a lawsuit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We encourage you to be patient. Remember: hastily accepting the first settlement offer may not fully account for your losses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>We Can Share What to Expect After Filing an Injury Claim<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sinklaw.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">George Sink Injury Lawyers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has over 40 years of experience. In that time, we\u2019ve resolved 40,000 cases.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You\u2019ll always know what to expect when you partner with us. While you focus on getting better, we\u2019ll fight for the compensation you need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To begin your <\/span><a href=\"#case-bottom-form\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">free case review<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, dial <a style=\"white-space: nowrap;\" href=\"tel:(888) 612-7001\">(888) 612-7001<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After filing a personal injury claim, you shouldn\u2019t expect the unexpected. From the very beginning, you should know what\u2019s going to happen. Our law firm prides itself on educating injured claimants about the financial recovery process.\u00a0 Here, we\u2019ll provide some basic information about what to expect after we file your claim. If you have any&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":12877,"parent":5940,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/case-type.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-12870","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n<title>Personal Injury Claim Expectations | George Sink<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After filing a personal injury claim, you can expect the insurer to offer a low settlement and ask for a recorded statement. 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