# What Happens When You Reject a Settlement Offer? | Omega Law ![A personal injury lawyer explains to their client what happens if you deny a settlement offer.](https://www.omegalaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/what-happens-if-you-deny-a-settlement-300x195.jpg) If you deny a settlement offer in a California personal injury case, you can usually continue negotiating for more money. However, the insurance company does not have to increase its offer. Your case may eventually go to court if both sides cannot agree. Before making that decision, a [West Hollywood personal injury lawyer](https://www.omegalaw.com/west-hollywood/personal-injury-lawyer/) from Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys can review the offer you have received, explain what your claim may be worth, and help you decide what to do next. ## Your Options After Rejecting a Settlement Offer Turning down an offer does not automatically end your personal injury claim. You may still have several ways to seek compensation, depending on how far your case has progressed. Omega Law Group can help you weigh these choices before you respond to the insurance company. ### Continue Negotiating With the Insurance Company You can reject the first offer and ask the insurer to reconsider the amount. This is common when the proposed payment does not cover your medical care, lost income, or other losses. An attorney from our firm can help you send a counteroffer explaining why you are requesting more money. Medical records, bills, and other evidence can help support that request. The insurance company may agree to pay more, make another offer, or refuse to change its position. ### Provide More Evidence to Support Your Claim The insurance company may offer less money if it disputes your injuries or who caused the accident. Medical records, photos, witness accounts, and proof of lost wages can help show why your claim may be worth more. ### Consider Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit If negotiations do not lead to a fair agreement, filing a lawsuit may be an option. A lawsuit does not always mean there will be a trial. Many cases settle after a lawsuit is filed. However, if necessary, your lawyer can represent you in court and argue for fair compensation. ## Why an Insurance Company May Offer Less Than You Expect An insurance company may not agree with the amount you are asking for. It might dispute who was at fault, whether all your medical care was needed, or how your injuries have affected your life. Omega Law Group can examine the reasons behind a low offer and determine whether the insurer has overlooked important information. Common issues include: - Disputes about fault: The insurer believes you caused or contributed to the accident. - Questions about medical treatment: The adjuster argues that certain treatments were unnecessary or unrelated to the injury. - Future expenses: The offer does not account for care you may need later. - Missing income records: The insurer has not considered all the work you missed or how your injuries affect your earnings. - Insurance policy limits: The available coverage may be too low to pay for all your losses. A low offer does not always mean the insurer acted improperly. However, you should understand how the adjuster reached the offer amount before deciding whether to accept it. ### Hurt in an accident? Our personal injury lawyers in are here to help. [![Telephone Icon](https://www.omegalaw.com/wp-content/themes/omega-rebuild/assets/app/svg/telephone-white.svg)(310) 526-8383](tel:+13105268383) ## What You Risk by Turning Down a Settlement Rejecting an offer may lead to a better settlement, but it also comes with risks. There is no guarantee that the insurance company will offer more money later. Omega Law Group helps clients understand these concerns before they make a final decision. ### The Insurance Company May Withdraw Its Offer The amount an insurer offers today may not be available later. The company could lower its offer or take it off the table while you are still trying to reach an agreement. ### Your Case May Take Longer to Resolve Further negotiations can take weeks or months. If you file a lawsuit, the process may take longer. During that time, you may still have medical bills and other expenses to manage. ### A Trial Could Result in Less Compensation Going to trial does not mean you will receive more money. A jury might award you less than the insurer offered, or you could lose your case and receive nothing. You also need to consider the cost of going to court. State law may require you to pay certain expenses if you turn down a formal settlement offer. ## California Laws That Can Affect Your Settlement Decision Before turning down an offer, it helps to know how California law could affect your claim. Filing deadlines, disputes over fault, and special rules for settlement offers can all play a part. Omega Law Group can explain what these rules mean for your case. ### Meeting the Filing Deadline Under [California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum%3D335.1.%26lawCode%3DCCP), you generally have two years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Different deadlines may apply in some cases. For example, claims against government agencies can have much shorter deadlines. Under [GOV § 911.2](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum%3D911.2.%26lawCode%3DGOV), many injury claims involving public entities must be presented within six months. Settlement talks generally do not stop the filing deadline. If you reject an offer and continue negotiating, you could lose your right to sue if you wait too long. ### California’s Comparative Negligence Rule In California, you may still recover damages even if you were partly responsible for the accident. However, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your damages total $100,000 and you are found 20% responsible, your recovery would generally be reduced to $80,000. ### Injured in an accident? Our personal injury lawyers in are here to help. [![Telephone Icon](https://www.omegalaw.com/wp-content/themes/omega-rebuild/assets/app/svg/telephone-white.svg)(310) 526-8383](tel:+13105268383) ## Formal Settlement Offers Under Section 998 Under [CCP § 998](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum%3D998.%26lawCode%3DCCP), rejecting certain written settlement offers can cost you money if your case goes to trial. For example, if you reject a valid offer and the court does not award you more than what was offered, you may have to pay some of the other side’s court costs. You may also lose the right to recover certain costs of your own. In some cases, you could have to pay expert witness fees. Not every settlement offer falls under Section 998. This law applies to certain formal offers, not every offer from an insurance company. These offers generally expire after 30 days or when the trial or arbitration begins, whichever comes first. ### Have you been involved in an accident? [![Telephone Icon](https://www.omegalaw.com/wp-content/themes/omega-rebuild/assets/app/svg/telephone-white.svg)(310) 526-8383](tel:+13105268383) ## How to Decide Whether a Settlement Offer is Fair A settlement should reflect more than the bills you have received so far. Some injuries require treatment long after the accident, and others may affect your ability to work. Before recommending that you accept or reject an offer, Omega Law Group can review the losses connected to your injury. These may include medical bills, rehabilitation, future treatment, lost wages, reduced earning ability, and pain and suffering. ### Consider How Much Money You Would Actually Receive The amount offered by the insurance company may not be the amount you take home. Depending on your case, money from a settlement may go toward attorney’s fees, case expenses, medical liens, or other amounts that must be repaid. We can explain these deductions and estimate what you would receive after other necessary payments are covered. ### Understand What You Give Up by Accepting Most personal injury settlements require you to sign a release. This document generally prevents you from bringing further claims covered by the agreement. If you later discover that your injuries are worse than expected, you generally cannot ask for additional money. That is why it is important to review the settlement terms before signing anything. ## How Our Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Settlement Dispute You do not have to accept an offer simply because an insurance adjuster says it is the best amount available. A lawyer from Omega Law Group can explain the possible outcomes for your case and handle further discussions with the insurer. We can help by: - Reviewing the settlement offer and its terms. - Calculating your current and expected losses. - Gathering evidence that supports your request for compensation. - Responding to disputes about fault or medical treatment. - Negotiating with the insurance company. - Preparing a lawsuit when settlement talks are unsuccessful. - Explaining legal deadlines and possible court costs. Your attorney can also help you understand when continued negotiations may no longer be worthwhile. The final decision to accept or reject a settlement belongs to you. However, having legal guidance can make that decision easier, especially when the offer involves serious injuries or long-term expenses. ## Talk to a Lawyer From Our Team Before You Deny a Settlement Offer If you deny a settlement offer, what happens next can depend on the strength of your claim, the evidence available, and whether the insurer is willing to negotiate. At Omega Law Group, we want to help you understand your choices before you agree to anything. [Our attorneys](https://www.omegalaw.com/our-attorneys/) have decades of experience handling injury claims, and our [case results](https://www.omegalaw.com/results/) reflect the work we have done for injured clients. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. We treat our clients like family, answer their questions, and keep them informed throughout their cases. There is no attorney’s fee unless we recover damages for you. Call us today for a free consultation. --- Source: https://www.omegalaw.com/faqs/what-happens-if-you-deny-a-settlement/