I have just been offered $1,000 as compensation for twisting an ankle from slipping in Aldi. Should I accept the offer from the Aldi’s insurance company?
It is good news that you have received an offer of compensation for twisting an ankle from slipping in Aldi, although it may not be in your best interests to accept the settlement. The insurance company is unlikely to be acting with your best interests at heart, and the offer you have received is likely to be considerably lower than the damages which can be recovered if you claim compensation for a twisted ankle in Aldi.
Unsolicited offers of compensation are typically made to save an insurance company money, and in exchange for a quick settlement, the victim needs to accept a reduced level of compensation. In theory, both parties should benefit from such an arrangement. The accident victim receives compensation quickly, and the insurance company does not have to pay legal bills from defending a claim that it is unlikely to win.
In practice however, it is the insurance company that benefits the most, and accident victims often have their claims undersettled. In your case, we cannot tell you if the amount of grocery store accident compensation for an ankle injury you have been offered is fair and appropriate, without knowing more about the severity of your twisted ankle.
Compensation amounts for ankle ligament injuries can rise to $15,000 for severe sprains (with permanent disability), but even relatively minor ankle injuries can see compensation awarded up to $3,600. These figures are for general damages alone, and costs and expenses you may have incurred can also be recovered as part of a claim for compensation for twisting an ankle from slipping in Aldi.
If you have been forced to take time off work due to your injury, an offer of $1,000 may not even cover your lost earnings, let alone give you recompense for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by your injury. It would therefore appear that the insurance company is attempting to undersettle your claim.
Before you reject the offer to settle in favour of claiming grocery store accident compensation for an ankle injury, you should speak with a personal injury lawyer about your ankle injury and any costs and expenses you have incurred due to the accident. A lawyer will assess how much compensation you are likely to be able to recover if you claimed compensation for a twisted ankle in Aldi, and you can then decide if it is worth your while taking legal action, knowing what you stand to achieve by doing so.