Victims should be very cautious when dealing with the insurance company of a criminal offender.

Often, these insurance companies are just trying to get you to settle for an amount which may be substantially less than your real loss.

If the victim's insurance company covers the loss of the victim, the offender should never benefit from the insurance position of the victim. The victim paid the premiums for that coverage and should be the sole benficiary of those benefits, contrary to the feeble attempts of some defense attorneys to use this to keep some debt off of their criminal clients.

Only if the victim is fully satisfied by the insurance company of the offender, should the victim consider dealing with the offender's insurance company. But be advised, that any offer accepted by the victim from the offender's insurance carrier will probably eliminate the possibility of future damages being claimed. Most times, any payment made to, and accepted by the victim, will be considered as final and complete compensation for any present or future loss or damage of, or to, the victim.

If the insurance company of the victim covers the loss for the benefit of the victim, and then the offender makes payments to the victim for the same loss, the victim's insurance company will probably subrogate the claim to the victim to recover the money they paid to the victim.

The victim should never try to double dip or collect both from their own insurance company and the offender for the same loss.