A Closer Look At Settlements Following Accidents
Brian O Sutter
Accident Lawyers
Personal Injury
Being involved in an accident can lead to a long recovery. For those who aren’t responsible for the accident, seeking financial compensation is the key to ensuring that they aren’t left struggling to pay for medical costs that aren’t their fault. However, one of the most common mistakes that can be made where financial restitution following an accident is concerned is to fail to fully understand the cash settlement that you may be offered. While having a good accident lawyer on your side is the key to making sure that you receive the kind of settlement you deserve, it’s also important that you take some time to understand the basics of personal injury settlements.
What Is The Settlement?
Essentially, a settlement is where the two parties involved in the accident agree to settle their dispute out of court. In the case of personal injury, it generally involves the party who was injured agreeing to accept a lump sum of money from the responsible party in exchange for dropping any further litigation.
In other words, if you’re injured in an accident and accept a settlement from the insurance company or the party responsible for your injuries, you’ll be given a cash payout but will from thereon be unable to pursue any additional compensation.
The benefits here are obvious – both parties avoid having to spend more time or energy heading to trial, and the injured party is able to get the money they need to cover their expenses and then move on with their lives.
The Big Mistake To Avoid With Settlements
However, while it can offer very real benefits to you, there is also something to remember regarding these payouts. In many instances, they’re not really what is owed to you in full. Rather, insurance companies and responsible parties use the settlement as a way to avoid having to pay out larger sums of money to those who are injured.
The important thing to pay attention to here is what your accident has really cost you, in the short term as well as in the potential future of your recovery. Consider the following elements as they relate to your finances following an accident:
- Medical expenses incurred directly after accident
- Lost wages due to time recovering away from work
- Future potential lost wages due to injuries
- Future medical costs including medication, physical therapy, surgeries, and more
Those things all add up in a big way, and aren’t always included when an initial settlement is offered to those injured. Instead, a fraction of the total cost is usually offered in the hopes that a quick end to the lawsuit will follow.
Getting What You’re Owed
To ensure that you actually get the compensation you are really owed, speaking with a personal injury lawyer about your case is the best step you can take. Our team is experienced with negotiating settlements that are completely fair, and will work to help you understand what options you have and whether or not you’re being offered a settlement that is really acceptable. Contact us as soon as possible to get the free case review that could help your financial recovery.