Whether you have been in a serious car accident or you have become
seriously injured as a result of a slip and fall, one thing is for
certain – you should never
try and settle your own personal injury claims. Negotiating your own
settlement will most
likely always be to your detriment and result in you not recovering in
the range of monetary compensation that you or a loved one deserve.
Settling personal injury claims is learned
art, not a science. Claims are not settled by notional impulse or
gut-feeling.
Claims are settled on the basis of proper medical evidence and
plaintiff credibility.
In addition, unless you are involved in the legal profession, it would
be impossible
for you to know, determine or understand e
xactly what you are settling for. There are
theories of damages to properly develop in personal injury cases. You may have
a claim for loss of enjoyment of life, or the loss of the ability to clean your
home or shovel your driveway. You may have a claim for pain and suffering, or only for the income you lost while you were injured. Your children or grand-children may also have a claim for compensation because they have lost
your guidance. Your
spouse may be
entitled to compensation because he/she has lost your companionship
because of your extensive rehabilitation schedules. There may be are
living
expenses and money your family has paid out of pocket to help you. What
if you need
future care and devices because you suffered serious orthopaedic
injuries? It is impossible for a person not involved in the law to
know and understand exactly what they can claim for.
I met a new client this week that had been trying to
negotiate her own settlement for a nominal amount that would never have
properly compensated her and her family. But how would she have known this? For a layperson, a tax free monetary settlement will
almost always seem attractive – but I would strongly recommend the opinion of a
personal injury lawyer that is experienced in dealing with a proper range of
injury compensation. Never try and settle your own case yourself with an insurance adjuster.
A settlement for injury should be left to professional opinion.
Please do not
hesitate to contact me for more information. We offer free no obligation consultations
with respect to all personal injury matters. Please inform yourself and be aware of your legal rights. We are
available 24/7 through e-mail or answering service.
If you wish to instead email us confidentially click here. One of our lawyers will respond very promptly.
Matt Lalande