What Is Considered When Settling A Personal Injury Case
Posted on: 23 January 2023
If you're the victim of an injury and filing a personal injury lawsuit, you'll likely be dealing with an insurance adjuster and a lawyer to settle your case. Most lawsuits are actually settled out of court rather than going to trial, which means that you'll likely come to an agreement on the compensation you deserve. Here is how you can expect the settlement process to work.
Your Lawyer Matters When Seeking A Settlement
The lawyer that you work with can make a big difference when it comes to settling a personal injury case. You'll need to decide if you want to work with a lawyer that will be aggressive and try to get you the biggest possible settlement at the risk of going to trial, or one that will try to keep everything in mediation and avoid a trial. This can make a big difference in how much money you end up receiving and how much the lawsuit costs you.
Your Injuries Make A Big Impact On A Settlement
The type of injury that you sustained will have a big impact on the settlement process. The insurance adjuster and your lawyer will look at your injuries, with each knowing how much they feel the injury is worth to you as the plaintiff. Some factors are going to be worth more than others when it comes to the total compensation you seek.
Your direct medical bills are only part of the overall picture. The extent of the injuries also plays a factor in if you will have a temporary or permanent injury. A permanent injury that you do not fully recover from is going to be worth a lot more than just your direct medical bills. It can make an impact on your lifestyle moving forward that you should not just have to accept, and you can actually negotiate compensation because of it.
Your Job Is Factored Into A Settlement
You also need to look at how your injury impacted your job. You may have lost wages due to the injury, which includes time taken off of work where you were not paid or lost personal and sick days. You also need to look at if your future wages are impacted by the injury as well since that can also be factored into your compensation. If you work a very labor-intensive job that you can't do after the accident, it's possible that you may not be able to return to that job. Receiving training and taking a lower-paying job in the future can be considered when seeking compensation.
Speak to a car accident lawyer to learn more.
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