If you do not accept a settlement agreement, your case will proceed to the next steps. If you have already filed a lawsuit, this means you might have more hearings and eventually go to trial. When a case goes to trial, that introduces the chance you could lose in court.
Always respond to a low settlement offer in writing rather than over the phone or in person. Submitting a counteroffer in writing gives you a chance to provide more evidence to support your claim. If you haven't already hired a lawyer, do so before you respond to the low offer you received.
How Should I Respond to a Low Settlement Offer? Try to remain calm and examine the offer. After receiving a low settlement offer, the most important thing to do is to stay calm. Provide a formal, written response. Formulate your counteroffer. Settle after you've recovered.
Possible Legal Action: If negotiations don't yield a satisfactory offer, a lawsuit may become necessary, requiring additional time and resources. Risk of Lower Final Settlement: In some cases, litigation may lead to a settlement lower than the initial offer, depending on the court's decision.
Rather, ask why the adjuster has provided this extremely low figure. You should then write a formal letter of response in which you state that you don't find the initial low settlement offer acceptable, listing the reasons why and concluding with a demand for a higher settlement offer.
Treat the following as a set of general guidelines: Gather complete information before you start writing. Describe your injuries and medical treatment. List your medical expenses, lost wages, and non-economic damages. Make a settlement demand. Include a deadline for legal action if you want to, but don't bluff.
If you are not happy with the settlement agreement, then there are a number of routes you can take. You can reject the agreement outright and make a claim to the employment tribunal. Such a claim would need to be made within 3 months (less one day) from the last day of your employment.
These are the steps to follow: Work out what you can offer the people you owe. Send your offer to them in writing. Ask them to confirm they accept your offer in writing. Keep any letters your creditors send you about the settlement offer. Negotiate with your creditors if you need to.
Treat the following as a set of general guidelines: Gather complete information before you start writing. Describe your injuries and medical treatment. List your medical expenses, lost wages, and non-economic damages. Make a settlement demand. Include a deadline for legal action if you want to, but don't bluff.