After a personal injury, there are a few things you should account for before accepting a settlement for your medical care and other financial needs. Your injury should be paid for by the party who caused it. They should also be compensating you for financial issues you could face in the future as well as the impact that this injury is going to have on you.
When you’re looking at a personal injury settlement, it may appear to be a good amount of money. You might think it’s enough to cover your injuries and time off work. However, it’s very smart to hold off on accepting any settlement until you can be sure that it’s a fair settlement for your case.
Your attorney is familiar with cases like yours and how much you should expect. You need to consider many factors before accepting a settlement including:
- The cost of medical care now and in the future
- Therapy costs for physiological problems
- Therapy costs for psychological matters
- Repairs or upgrades to your home to account for disabilities and ease of access
- Lost wages
- The loss of future earning potential
There are many other factors that might influence your settlement as well.
What do you do if the settlement doesn’t seem fair?
Your attorney can continue to fight for a settlement that is more appropriate, or you may go to trial over the case. There, a judge or jury can assign a value to your case, awarding you what is a fair amount of compensation in their opinion. Our site has more on what to expect.