Explaining What Determines the Value of a Personal Injury Case
Surely no other question you ask your St. Augustine accident attorney is as important as, “What can I get for my case?” Receiving enough compensation to cover your medical costs and loss of wages is vital to your financial well-being, and you may want a bit more for all the trouble you have been put through. But just what is an appropriate settlement amount, and how is it determined?
How Are Injury Claims Valued?
Your attorney has worked with many clients in the past and will be able to make a fair determination of your case value. Before he does so, he will need to take into account all the relevant factors in your case:
- The specifics of the accident
- Whether you share any blame
- The extent of your injuries, etc.
He will then discuss with you the value he considers appropriate.
Why Asking for a Huge Settlement Isn't Always the Best Option
We all have read stories of individuals being awarded vast sums in personal injury cases. Such instances are by far the exception, however; indeed, in most cases, these are appealed and ultimately the claimant receives substantially less than the millions he/she was originally awarded. You may wonder what there is to lose by going for as high a settlement as possible.
The problem is that if your St. Augustine accident attorney demands an extremely disproportionate settlement the insurance company may well dig in their heels and refuse to settle at all. This is because they will feel your attorney is being unreasonable, and that it is, therefore, more financially prudent to allow the case to go to trial.
What Is a Good Settlement Offer?
Your attorney will be unlikely to shoot for the moon unless your case is extraordinary. Instead, he will send a demand to the insurance company that is higher than he expects you will ultimately receive, but which is still within reason. The insurer will respond with a figure that is lower, thereby giving both sides room for negotiation.
If you have been injured in an accident that was the fault of another, you may wish to pursue a personal injury claim.
A St. Augustine accident attorney can help you achieve a settlement. Call the Attorneys at Canan Law today at (904) 849-2266.
