Statistics show that the vast majority of injury claims are settled prior to a judge making a ruling on the case. In fact, roughly 95% of all injury cases end with a settlement, so if you are injured and plan to pursue a claim, expect that a settlement is likely in your future. But how exactly can you ace the negotiation and settlement process to ensure you get a fair and complete settlement offer?
If you hope to win a fair settlement award, there are a few things you’ll want to avoid during the process that could end up significantly impacting your award. In today’s blog, we spotlight three things you should never do when pursuing an injury award settlement in Minnesota.
Three Things To Avoid When Working Towards A Settlement
It’s possible to be your own worst enemy when it comes to winning an injury award, but you can minimize this risk by striving to avoid doing these three things during the settlement and negotiation process.
1. Going Solo – There are a lot of things you can do in life on your own, even if you’re not a professional. Perhaps you can change your own oil, hang drywall or do your own hair and makeup for a wedding. One thing you shouldn’t do if you’re not a professional is attempt to win your own injury claim.
Now, we’re not saying it’s impossible to win an injury award on your own. In fact, it’s very possible that you could receive an offer from the insurance company soon after you submit a claim on your own. What is impossible is maximizing your award potential without the help of a lawyer. We understand the complexities of injury law and know how to construct and assign value in your case. You may not be able to put a dollar amount on the true cost of a significant back injury, but we can rely on our experience and our understanding of the law to ensure you get every penny you’re entitled to receive. Whether that’s compensation for medical bills, lost wages, mental anguish, property damage, rehabilitation benefits, vocational training, replacement services and more, we’ll exhaust all of your compensation options so you don’t leave money on the table.
2. Jumping At The First Offer – Insurance companies are typically more than happy to hear that a claimant has accepted their first offer. These insurance giants didn’t become money making machines by dolling out huge payments on initial offers. They are hoping you’ll accept and put an end to your case for pennies on the dollar. Again, we’re not saying that there is never a situation where you shouldn’t accept the first offer, as individual case characteristics will need to be evaluated, but in the vast majority of cases there is ample room for negotiation following an initial offer. Carefully review the offer, talk with your lawyer about your strengths and opportunities, and develop a counteroffer that you believe is a better representation of what you are owed.
3. Rushing The Process – Finally, we remind all of our clients that patience is an incredibly helpful virtue during the injury claim process. The insurance company will try to drag things out and wait until just before required deadlines pass to file their paperwork, because they believe the longer the process takes, the more likely it is that an injured claimant, who may be in dire financial straits as a result of the injury and their inability to work, will accept a lowball settlement offer. As we mentioned above, don’t be in a rush to settle or agree to a first offer just because you want to put an end to the process. Expect that it may take months or longer to settle your case, and prepare accordingly. Also, slowing down ensures that you know the true value of your case. You’ll be better able to understand the extent of your injuries and how they will affect your life now and in the future. Taking time to really assess your health and the totality of your claim value ensures you aren’t shortchanged.
Let us help you avoid all of these potential pitfalls and get you the compensation you truly deserve, reach out to the team at Hey Workers today at (844) 439-9675.
