how to trust your personal injury lawyer with settlement

What can I do if Im not satisfied with my lawyer?

If you think your attorney has acted unethically You can complete a complaint form online or download a PDF complaint form from the State Bar's website. You may also call the State Bar at 800-843-9053 (in California) or 213-765-1200 (outside California) to discuss the complaint-filing process.

How do I get the most out of my injury settlement?

5 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Personal Injury ClaimDecide on a settlement amount. Go over your records of loss and get a solid idea of how much compensation you deserve. ... Provide thorough medical documentation. ... Follow all treatment plans prescribed. ... Stay off of social media. ... Don't settle too quickly.

How do you respond to a low settlement offer?

Steps to Respond to a Low Settlement OfferRemain Calm and Analyze Your Offer. Just like anything in life, it's never a good idea to respond emotionally after receiving a low offer. ... Ask Questions. ... Present the Facts. ... Develop a Counteroffer. ... Respond in Writing.

How do lawyers negotiate settlements?

The negotiation process typically starts with your lawyer providing a written proposal for settlement to the insurance adjuster or the defendant's lawyer. The adjuster or lawyer will respond to your lawyer either in writing or over the phone.

What to do when you receive an injury settlement?

Create Your Will and Trust. When you receive an injury settlement, you need a will and trust. A will and trust can make sure that your interests are represented, and your family is protected. There may be advantages to using a trust, and your attorney can help you understand the best options.

How to get a settlement?

Take a Deep Breath and Wait. You don’t have to decide what to do the first day you receive your settlement. When you make careful decisions, you’re likely to make better decisions. Give yourself the time to evaluate all of your options before you decide how to proceed.

Why is it important to have a settlement plan?

Without a plan, you might spend your settlement funds faster than you really want to. It’s important to look at your settlement as a tool that can help you and your family. Carefully create a plan to make sure that your settlement money works for you.

What should you strategize based on?

You should strategize based on your injuries, your personal and family goals, and based on what you need and want your money to do for you in the long term.

What can a financial professional do for a settlement?

A financial professional can help you determine the best investment plan for your settlement. They can help you evaluate your risk tolerance and your needs to determine the best course of action. Having someone on your side who is experienced with lump-sum funds or monthly payments can help you understand how to use your settlement to your advantage.

Does a personal injury settlement come with instructions?

Your settlement doesn’t come with instructions, so you may want to speak with your Las Vegas personal injury law firm about the best way to use your compensation. Here’s how to know what to do with your injury settlement money.

Can you use your settlement to get additional education?

You can use your settlement to get additional education. You might pursue an education that allows you to train for a new career. You might be able to increase your income and find a new profession that you enjoy. Before you begin any educational pursuit, be sure to do your research.

Why do people not set up personal injury trusts?

Many victims of personal injuries refrain from setting up a personal injury trust because they do not understand the advantages that these accounts can provide. If you want to establish a personal injury trust to manage your personal injury settlement, you can reap significant benefits.

What is a personal injury trust?

A personal injury trust is a mechanism you can use to hold your settlement funds under the oversight of trustees, or people you choose to have control over your money. These trustees authorize each transaction to ensure that you spend your money in a way that is in your best interests.

Build Your Case

Take the initiative to carefully and thoroughly build your case so you can maximize your damages. This is a good idea even if your case doesn’t proceed to trial. Building your case encompasses serving discovery demands to the opposing party and requesting your attorney conducts depositions or request records.

Preserve the Accident Evidence

When it comes time for a verdict, the jury will be weighing the evidence. The opposing party will decide whether to offer you a reasonable compensation based on the merits of your case. So the more steps you take to preserve evidence, the more likely it is you will win your case.

Seek Medical Treatment

It is your responsibility to give an accurate representation of the extent of your injuries emanating from the accident. In order to receive a just settlement offer, you need medical practitioners to document your injuries and develop a treatment plan.

Evaluate Your Claim Thoroughly

Keep in mind that you are not limited to any one type of damages stemming from your accident. There are various types of damages you might suffer because of your injuries. It’s possible you won’t be aware of the full extent of your injuries, at least initially.

Consider Future Damages in Your Case

When you are in an accident, personal injury can bring losses that are immediate and well into the future. It’s possible you won’t even completely recover from your injuries prior to your case going to trial. It is important that you factor in your case the ramifications of long-term injuries when you negotiate a settlement amount.

1. Get Medical Attention Immediately

If you hope to maximize your injury settlement, you must receive medical attention immediately after your accident. Documenting your injuries is critical at this point, as it will show that the accident in question directly caused her injuries. If you wait, the defense can question how your injuries occurred.

3. Keep Copies of Your Employment Records

Another way to get the most out of your injury settlement is by retaining copies of your employment records. This could include statements from your employer that describe your hourly or salary rate, the number of hours you have worked, the amount of money you have missed out on by being unable to work, and copies of your pay stubs.

6. Stay Off Social Media

Insurance adjusters and the defense may comb through your social media accounts to look for inconsistencies and opportunities to suggest that you may have exaggerated the extent and impact of your injuries.

Contact a Lawyer for Help

If you need help to increase the value of your injury settlement, but you do not know where to turn, contact an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C.

Let's Get Started

We’re ready to fight for you. We’re ready to be your ally. And we’re ready to start right now. Don’t waste time, contact our law offices today.

What happens when you get a settlement check?

When you finally reach a settlement, there are a few more things you and your lawyer need to do before the defendant gives your lawyer the check. Even so, once the check reaches your lawyer, there are a few obligations they must attend to before they give you the final balance.

What is structured settlement?

Unlike a regular settlement that pays the settlement amount in full, a structured settlement is when a defendant pays the settlement amount over time. These types of settlements usually occur when the case involves a minor or if there was a catastrophic injury that requires extensive ongoing medical care.

How long does it take to settle a liens claim?

It’s usually easy to settle liens, unless the government has a lien against your settlement. If you have any liens from a government-funded program like Medicare or Medicaid, it takes months to resolve them. Your lawyer also uses your settlement check to resolve any bills related to your lawsuit.

How long does it take for a settlement check to be delivered?

While many settlements finalize within six weeks, some settlements may take several months to resolve.

What form do you sign to get a settlement?

The first form you have to sign to get your settlement is a release form. This form is a legally binding agreement stating that you will not pursue further legal action against the defendant for your specific case. Most defendants or insurance companies won’t give you a settlement check unless you sign the release form. However, if you have concurrent lawsuits against the same defendant for a different matter, you don’t have to stop pursuing those claims.

How to speed up the delivery of a settlement check?

Once you get close to a settlement, start drafting a release form ahead of time so it’s ready once you reach an agreement.

What is a lawsuit loan?

A lawsuit loan, also known as pre-settlement funding, is a cash advance given to a plaintiff in exchange for a portion of their settlement. Unlike a regular loan, a lawsuit loan doesn’t require a credit check or income verification. Instead, we examine applicants based on the strength of their case.