Taking legal action against a negligent driver can set on you on a path to contentious litigation. The thought of litigating your case in open court might make you nervous, but there’s a significant chance that you’ll have the opportunity to settle your case.
In fact, the defense might approach you early on in your case to try to resolve the matter, but you’ll have to be careful that you’re not agreeing to a settlement that’s contrary to your best interest. All too often, accident victims jump on a settlement offer in order to secure quick access to cash and avoid the drawn-out process associated with litigation, but you need to make sure you’re getting the most out of your accident settlement.
How to get the most out of your personal injury claim settlement
When the defense offers to settle your car accident personal injury case, you need to take a step back, regroup, and analyze the evidence before making a decision. With that in mind, here are some ways to maximize what you get out of your settlement:
- Be armed with evidence: If you want to push for more compensation out of your settlement, then you need to have compelling evidence that convinces the other side that they’re going to end up paying even more if they wind up taking their case to trial. So, if you want to counter a settlement offer and get the most out of your claim, then be sure to highlight the evidence you have when responding to the defense.
- Articulate the full extent of your damages: Out of context, a settlement offer might seem like a lot of money. When compared to your losses, though, it could be far too little. Therefore, you need to have a full understanding of your damages and be able to articulate them to the defense. This might convince them to increase their offer so that they’re not at risk of having to pay more if your case ends up going to trial.
- Anticipate the defense’s arguments: Even if you do the actions mentioned above, the defense might still raise arguments as to why you should accept the settlement offer and why you’re at risk of recovering less or even nothing if you take your case to trial. If you can anticipate these defenses, then you can prepare yourself to counter their assertions. This is especially true when it comes to arguments of comparative negligence.
- Don’t give in: You need to have confidence going into your settlement negotiations. If you don’t, then you could be setting yourself up for failure. In this situation, you’ll be tempted to take a quick settlement at a value that’s far less than your claim is worth. You want to avoid this. So, don’t be afraid to push back against the initial offer handed to you. That way you know you’re advocating for what you deserve and will likely get more out of the negotiation process.
Don’t lose out on the compensation you deserve
There’s a lot at stake in your car accident case. If you mishandle your claim, then you could be robbed of the compensation you need to spur yourself to a successful recovery. Don’t fall victim to that sort of outcome.
Instead, diligently work your case so that you maximize the chances that you’ll recover what you deserve. If you have questions about doing that, be sure to discuss the matter with your attorney. By doing so, you’ll hopefully protect your financial stability, your recovery and your future.