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Why it often pays to wait
Many injuries take weeks or months to fully show what they will cost. A sore back may turn into a disc injury that needs injections or surgery. If you settle before that is known, the extra care is on you. See surgery after a car accident for how future care affects a claim.
Early offers also tend to leave out lost wages, the cost of help at home, and how the injury changes your daily life. An adjuster may not ask about these, and you may not think to mention them. Waiting until your doctor can describe your recovery usually gives a more complete number.
What signing a release means
To get paid, you will usually be asked to sign a release. Most releases say that in exchange for the payment you give up all claims from the crash, including injuries you do not know about yet. Read every word, and do not sign anything until you understand what you are giving up.
Ask whether the release covers only the driver or also other people and companies. Ask what happens to medical liens and who pays them out of the settlement. Our page on medical liens explains why this matters. The answer depends on the documents and the facts; a lawyer can check.
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Tell us what happened. We will tell you plainly whether there is a case and what to do next. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
When an early offer may make sense
Sometimes a first offer is fair, for example after a minor crash where you are fully healed and the bills are small. Even then, compare it to your actual costs and time missed from work. Check whether it accounts for every bill, including ones that have not arrived yet. Ask for it in writing.
If the offer equals the other driver’s full policy limit, more money from that driver’s insurer may not be available. California’s minimum coverage for policies issued or renewed since January 1, 2025 is $30,000 for injury to one person (Vehicle Code 16056). Other coverage, such as your own, may still apply; a lawyer can check before you sign.
What to do now
Keep going to treatment and keep copies of every medical record and bill. Save receipts for prescriptions, rides, and anything else the crash made you buy. Write down the claim number, the adjuster’s name and the date and amount of each offer. Ask for every offer in writing. Keep all of this in one folder.
Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement before talking to a lawyer. You can tell the adjuster you need time to review. To see how much of an offer you would actually keep after fees and liens, read how much of a settlement you keep. If the offer feels low, see responding to a lowball offer.
Do not let the deadline slip
While you think about an offer, the clock keeps running. Most California injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1). In Washington, the general deadline is three years (RCW 4.16.080). If the deadline passes without a settlement or a lawsuit, you can lose the claim.
Call Beverly Law at (310) 552-6959 or use the form before you sign. We can review the offer, the release and the deadline with you. You owe no fees or costs unless we win, and there is no cost to asking whether an offer is fair. Bring the offer letter with you.
Common questions
Is the first settlement offer usually the most I’ll get?
Often it is not the highest offer available. First offers are commonly made before treatment ends and before future costs are known. Many claims settle for more once the full records and bills are sent. Every case is different, so compare the offer to your real losses.
Can I reopen my claim after I accept a settlement?
Usually not. Most releases say you give up all claims from the crash, including injuries you do not know about yet. That is why it is important to wait until you understand your injuries, and to read the release carefully before signing.
How long should I wait before accepting an offer?
Many people wait until their doctor says they have finished treatment or reached a stable point, so future care can be counted. Do not wait past the lawsuit deadline, which is generally two years for injury claims in California.
Does accepting an offer mean I admit fault?
Settlement papers usually say no one admits fault. Still, read every document before signing. If the insurer says you were partly to blame, California’s comparative fault rule reduces your damages by your share but does not bar recovery.
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Car and truck accident lawyer — Beverly Law
If you were hurt in a car or truck crash in California and Washington, talk to a personal injury attorney. Free, confidential, English or Spanish. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
Related pages
The insurance company made a lowball offer: how to respond · How long does a car accident settlement take? · Is a car accident settlement taxable? · Car accident settlement with no injuries: what you can claim · Car totaled when the accident was not my fault: what happens now · All car and truck accident questions
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Important: This page is general information about California and Washington law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Last reviewed: November 5, 2026.