Most personal injury cases result in settlement before ever reaching trial. This can be a good thing for those who get a fair deal and are able to expedite their recovery of much needed compensation. But other car accident victims are taken advantage of during the settlement negotiation process. These individuals are oftentimes left with recoveries that fall far short of what they need and deserve, which can leave them reeling for years, perhaps even decades, to come.
Therefore, it’s imperative that you know how to competently negotiate your personal injury claim settlement. Here are some tips for how to do that:
- Know the evidence: Before you can negotiate, you need to know what evidence is in play. This isn’t just the evidence that supports your claim, but also the evidence that the defense is going to rely upon to try to minimize or eliminate its liability. Be thorough and realistic in your examination here.
- Know how juries have found in the past: No two personal injury cases are exactly the same, but there are oftentimes a lot of similarities. Although juries can be unpredictable, by looking at previous cases you can gain a better sense of how likely your case is to succeed at trial.
- Know the law: This sounds obvious, but you should know the intricacies of the law when negotiating your settlement. By doing so, you can shutdown strong-arm tactics and arguments presented by the other side that aren’t supported by the law.
- Know what you’re claim is worth: This point is key. If you don’t know the extent of the damages caused to you, then you’ll have no idea whether a settlement offer is appropriate. So, calculate medical expenses and lost wages, both incurred and expected, and carefully consider how your life has been impacted by your injuries to address noneconomic damages.
Confidently build the strong case you deserve
Negotiating and litigating personal injury cases isn’t easy. But you also don’t have to navigate those processes on your own. Skilled legal professionals like those at our firm have extensive experience developing personal injury legal claims and negotiating and litigating them to successful outcomes. If that sounds like the kind of assistance that you could benefit from, then we encourage you to consider your legal representation options and discuss your case with a firm that is right for you.