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When do I start the settlement process?
Before you think about your settlement, you need to assess whether you have substantially recovered from your car accident-related injuries and whether any lingering effects of the injuries are long-term.
If you have an ongoing disability as a result of an accident, you should not accept a settlement without there being a full assessment of your future treatment expenses and what you have lost in terms of your capacity to earn income, perform housekeeping responsibilities, and engage in other everyday pursuits. You should seek the assistance of a lawyer in such cases to ensure your claim is fully developed and professionally presented. In cases where you are injured, you should never settle without a full medical description of what future problems your injuries will cause and the limitations that will result. Moreover, the financial effects of your ongoing problems have to be evaluated and valued.
Deciding when to settle your claim depends on the type of injuries you suffered and your course of recovery, among other factors.
In cases where you are injured in a car accident and recover fully, it is usually best to settle after you have fully recovered in order that the settlement can be based on the total time from which you suffered from your injuries and what you lost financially during that time as a result. If you reach a settlement before you have at least substantially recovered, you are taking the risk that the compensation you receive will not reflect the extent and duration of your symptoms. In other words, you are settling without knowing all the relevant facts that affect the value of your claim.
When to settle a case that involves more serious injuries that result in long-term or permanent symptoms and disabilities is much more difficult to determine. It is best in such cases to seek the advice of a lawyer before settling your claim. The lawyer will consider the medical evidence from your doctors, which will indicate whether your condition has stabilized or is likely to either improve or deteriorate in the future. He or she will also assess how your injuries will affect your ability to earn income. The important point is that no case should be resolved without your having a very good idea based on a medical opinion about the extent of your current disability and what problems you may expect to face in the future. |
