Studies show that not only are you more likely to get compensation if you have an attorney in a personal injury case, but your settlement will be higher. That's because personal injury lawyers don't just accept the first offer you make. They negotiate and push for the maximum amount possible. Many clients expect lawyers to offer too little or demand a lot, and then, after a certain period, both parties will meet in between.
This is not impossible, but contrary to what can be expected, this is rare. When negotiating in good faith, lawyers often make lawsuits or make offers in good faith and then justify the demand. In such a case, it is quite possible that the lawyer is giving a better or almost the best offer, and no matter what the other party tries to do, sometimes an opposing party draws a “line in the sand.” In these cases, it's important to know your own results, so you can decide whether to accept or decline the offer, and what this means for you. Reaching an out-of-court settlement can remove any number of barriers to negotiation.
The drawbacks of involving lawyers in your dispute and preparing for a lawsuit can be considerable. One of the most important aspects of a personal injury lawyer's job is negotiating a settlement. Because experienced lawyers have negotiated hundreds, if not thousands, of cases, they have a better idea of what the liquidation value of a case should be. When negotiating cases, lawyers keep a lot of information in mind and often negotiate with insurance companies.
Attorneys negotiate elements of a case including liability, total damages, medical expenses, policy limits, location considerations, and direct negotiations with insurance companies to maximize settlement amounts for clients. Negotiations can happen at any time during the case and your lawyer should always keep you informed of what evidence helps or harms your case. You don't have to accept the counteroffer. Instead, your lawyer will offer you a counteroffer.
A lawyer can gather more documents (such as medical receipts and reparation evaluations) to show why you deserve a higher settlement. It's important to explain to your lawyer what's most important to you, so that you can do everything you can to achieve your goals.
