Previously on the blog, we discussed whether it’s a good idea to settle your personal injury lawsuit. Settling your case has its advantages and disadvantages, and the choice that’s best for you will fully depend on the circumstances of your case and what you want to get out of your claim. But if you make the decision to settle your case, then you need to know how to get as much out of it as possible. If you don’t milk it for all its worth, then you’ll wind up with an outcome that falls short of your expectations.
What can you do to get the most out of your personal injury settlement?
You can’t go into your settlement negotiations without a sound legal strategy. Improvising any aspect of your case can result in a poor outcome and a lower recovery. To get the most out of your personal injury settlement, then, consider doing the following:
- Digging deep to capture all your damages: The more damages you can show in your case, the more you’re likely to recover from your settlement. So, leave no stone unturned when it comes to putting a price on your claim. Be sure to capture both your incurred and anticipated medical expenses and lost wages, but also gather all receipts and invoices tied to your recover. Also, make sure you’re able to paint a compelling picture of how your life has transformed on account of your injuries.
- Being articulate when declining an offer: Remember, the first settlement offer you receive is likely to be far less than what you deserve. While you’ll probably want to deny that offer, there’s a right way and wrong way to do so. If you just flat out say “no” without explanation, then negotiations might stall, forcing your case to go to trial. If, on the other hand, you can clearly articulate why a settlement offer is insufficient, then you give the other side some room to work with when calculating a new settlement offer.
- Not overlooking future damages: Far too often, accident victims struggle to figure out what they’re anticipated damages are going to be. Here, you can have expert medical and employment experts help you calculate your anticipated losses, but you also need to think about how long your accident injuries are going to preclude you from living the life that you want.
- Staying away from social media: Although it can be a great outlet for the variety of emotions that you experience after your car accident, social media can also be extremely dangerous for your settlement negotiations. Recent posts can be used against you to show that your injuries aren’t as severe as you claim them to be, and they might also be used to show that you haven’t taken appropriate steps to mitigate your damages. This can give rise to comparative negligence
- Being prepared: Before going into negotiations, you have to be prepared to litigate your case. Only then can you convincingly present your evidence in hopes of persuading the other side to give you the settlement that you deserve.
Don’t lose out on your personal injury case
The outcome of your personal injury case can shape your life for years to come. With that in mind, it’s worth doing everything you can to secure the best outcome possible under the circumstances. To learn more about how to build the compelling and aggressive case that you need to maximize your chances of success, please continue to read through our blog and the rest of our website.
