One day when I was driving on the freeway, I was completely blindsided by another car pummeling down the hill. I didn't know what to do or what went wrong, but I knew things were bad. I couldn't feel my feet at first, and my face was covered in liquid that turned out to be blood. When the ambulance arrived I could see the concern on their faces, and it was frustrating to know what was about to come. Fortunately, I was able to get great medical care, and talk with a personal injury attorney that helped me to sort out everything else. Read this website to find out how accident attorneys can help you to make a difference in your own life.
If you get injured at work, you are entitled to workers' compensation benefits. However, the process can
Auto accidents are a common occurrence on the roads today, and they can be life-altering. From minor scra
Getting into a car accident can be a traumatic experience. Even minor car accidents can cause significant
Navigating the complex world of workers' compensation can be daunting. This is where a workers' compensat
Ideally, injury victims would get full compensation as soon as possible after an accident. However, that
If you are pursuing a personal injury claim, there will come a time when you have to decide whether to accept the final offer or decline it and go to court. Here are some of the factors to consider when deciding whether to accept the offer.
The Extent to Which It Covers Your Damages
When you file a personal injury claim, your aim is to recover your damages fully or as much of them as possible. Therefore, it pays to compare the settlement offer to the total value of your damages before declining or accepting an offer. The closer the offer is to your demand, the harder you should consider accepting the offer. This is because litigating an injury claim is not cheap, and the case expenses may eat into your settlement money. For example, if you have been offered $50,000 after demanding $60,000, you should strongly consider accepting the offer.
The Value of Your Damages
The value of your damages also matters because the higher your damages are, the more it makes sense to go court. Going to court for a minor injury that is only worth a couple of thousand dollars may not be worth it in the long run. This is because the lawyer also has to take their cut and you also have to foot the bill for the lawsuit cost. Don't forget the uncertainty of injury lawsuits; you can't be sure how much you will get even if you win.
The Strength of Your Case
You also need to take into consideration the strength of your case versus the strength of the defense. This will give you a good idea of your chances of winning the case and how much recovery to expect. For example, it may make sense to decline an offer and proceed to trial if you have strong evidence of the defendant's liability, you have credible witnesses, and your injuries were serious. However, accepting a strong offer makes sense if you are pursuing a case where it's your word against the defendant's word.
The Offer Compared To the Policy Limits
Lastly, you should also consider the defendant's insurance limits. This is because it is the insurance company that will be signing your settlement check should you win the case, but they will only do it up to the maximum of their client's policy. So if the offer is very close to the policy limit of the defendant, consider accepting it instead of chasing a small margin in court. The only exception is if the defendant has substantial assets that you can pursue to recover damages above the policy limits.
Reach out to a personal injury lawyer for more information.
Share