When you decline an offer from an insurance company, it is an opportunity to commence settlement negotiations. The court date must be between.10 and 17 days after you get the court papers. The author is a U.S. magistrate judge in the Northern District of Illinois and an associate editor of LITIGATION. You and your opposing counsel are headed. In this post, our experienced medical malpractice and personal injury lawyers at TLF cover what happens when you reject a settlement offer. The settlement demand letter is a critical step in the personal injury claims process. You can write a letter to the appropriate Attorney Grievance Committee or fill out and submit a form available from their websites. Insurance companies usually won't offer reasonable settlements without some effort on your side. Edit, sign, and share letter to decline offer online.