A Closer Look At The Out Of Court Settlement
Brian O Sutter
Accident Lawyers
When you’re injured in an accident, seeking financial compensation is something that may need to occur. Injuries take time to physically recover from, and mental scars can be just as tough to heal. But when your accident places you in a financial hardship it becomes even harder to overcome your injuries. That’s why seeking restitution for your injuries is so important – if someone else was responsible for your accident, you shouldn’t have to suffer financially because of it. And in the world of personal injury law, one of the most important things to understand is the out of court settlement.
Essentially, an out of court settlement is nothing more than the responsible party offering you a lump sum of money to cover your costs in exchange for you no longer pursuing legal action against them. It’s actually how most personal injury cases come to a conclusion, and can help save you a tremendous amount of time and stress by expediting your outcome.
However, there are several things that aren’t always understood about out of court settlements. It’s worth learning more about this to ensure that you are able to accept a settlement with confidence.
The Problem With Initial Settlements
First, you’ll want to understand that most responsible parties or their insurance companies will often offer you an initial settlement quickly. This can seem like easy money, but it’s actually often nothing more than ‘hush money’. Basically, the party knows that if a case goes to trial they could end up paying a huge amount more, so they offer you a lowball amount in the hopes that you’ll accept it and be done with the process.
Knowing What You’re Owed
Sometimes, those initial settlements are very fair. But in many instances they’re anything but. Consider some of the potential costs that go into calculating what a fair settlement amount may be:
- Medical bills
- Future potential medical costs
- Repairs or replacement of your vehicle or property
- Lost wages and future lost wages
- Mental and emotional pain or suffering
Each of these factors needs to be considered before accepting a settlement, and often that involves consulting with experts who can estimate the potential overall future costs of your injuries. In short, you need to have the right professional looking at your case in order to ensure that you don’t simply accept a settlement offer that takes advantage of you in your delicate situation.
The Importance Of An Attorney
Speaking with an accident lawyer is the best way to ensure that you aren’t taken advantage of by the other party. Your attorney can review your case and consult with various experts to determine just what you’re really owed and make certain that you don’t accept a settlement that is less than what you deserve.
Our team has years of experience helping those involved in accidents of all types. With offices located throughout Florida, we’re here and ready to help you. Contact our team today to get a free initial consultation and let us guide you towards a settlement amount that you can rest easy knowing was fair.