Any Jacksonville injury case has the potential to end in a settlement. Insurance companies typically will try to settle a claim out of court on an injury case so that they can avoid legal fees, as well as avoid a court judgment that exceeds what they are willing to pay in a settlement. Deciding whether or not to accept a settlement in your Jacksonville injury case is going to depend on many factors.
The Severity of the Injury
The actual injury that you have sustained is going to dictate whether or not it is worth it for you to pursue more in your Jacksonville injury case. Discussing with your legal representation is a great first step in terms of deciding what to do with the settlement offer that is on the table. No Jacksonville injury case is exactly like the other. It is going to be necessary to discuss with an expert such as your attorney to put a reasonable dollar value on your injury case. If the settlement proposed by your insurance company is within the ballpark of what you and your attorney consider reasonable, then it can be taken into account and considered. A more severe injury, though, is likely going to require some added negotiation.
How Many Settlement Offers Have You Received
The rule of thumb when dealing with insurance companies is that you never accept their first offer. The first offer that they put out on the table is intended to then spark a negotiation and an eventual settlement. When that first offer comes out, it is up to your attorney to take the necessary steps to really try and put their negotiation skills to work and increase the value of your settlement. If the settlement offer you are mulling over is the initial offer, chances are you should not accept it.
Comparing to Prior Settlements
The factors that go into the value of a settlement include the injury severity and the location of the injury. A broken leg sustained in the state of Georgia is going to be worth something different in Florida, that’s reality. Your Jacksonville injury case should be compared to similar injuries sustained in the same geographic location. Your attorney could provide some insight into this type of information to see what they can offer you in terms of advice. Chances are they cannot provide you with exact settlement amounts, but this is the type of knowledge that they will have to then help you decide if the settlement you are considering is worthwhile.
A Jacksonville injury case is going to be pursued in terms of closure with a settlement in the majority of cases. Settling out of court saves the insurance company and yourself money in terms of legal fees. If the settlement proposal is not adequate though in your mind or in the mind of your attorney, going to trial could end up earning you a hire award for your Jacksonville injury case than the settlement offer may bring to you.