Hi! My name is Sam, and I started this blog to help other injured people. Before you start reading, let me tell you a little about myself. Ten years ago, I slipped on a slice of fruit in a grocery store. My leg slid out from under me, and in a freak twist, it was rendered useless. I could no longer work and struggled with intense pain every day. Luckily, I found an accident and injury attorney who was able to get me the compensation I needed to cover my medical bills and my lost time at work. However, while I waited for the settlement to come through, I had to get creative physically and financially. This blog is dedicated to anyone who is in that limbo position. I hope the posts here help you decide what to do while you wait for the results of your trial.
If you're in the settlement phase of an injury case, it may feel like a great burden has been lifted. Be careful when accepting a settlement agreement, as you may be letting your legal opponent off the hook for far less than you deserve, which could ruin your financial future. As you look through the settlement terms and consider signing, think about a few circumstances and opportunities that could affect your future after injury.
The Worth Of A Finite Settlement Amount
After accepting a settlement amount, you move on with your life. The same bills may still be coming, but wouldn't a steady job and a cash settlement make you safe for life?
Not necessarily. Depending on your injuries, you could have many years of related medical injuries afterwards. If you're lucky, you move to a speedy recovery and have a lot of money leftover to spend as you will. For many injury victims, the medical bills can keep coming after the settlement funds are long exhausted.
You need to understand the potential damages that may spawn from an existing injury. Moving on with your life could make the injury worse, or it may become progressively worse on its own. If you have to continue with medical visits for aches and pains or even just over-the-counter medication, that's more money taken from your settlement amount that you can't spend on the rest of your life.
Before the funds are exhausted and years of distance are put between you and your legal opponent, make sure to negotiate for periodic health assessments to determine if you need more compensation. Physicals and medical examinations can keep an eye on the specific injury and maintain a professional connection between the injury and future complications. If you don't get worse, your legal opponent won't have to pay more. If the problem continues, you'll have a more obvious case for continued compensation.
Keep An Active Income Opportunity Open
Cash is good, but not necessarily unlimited in a settlement case. To protect yourself against the uncertainty of the legal system, make sure that you have an earning opportunity to rely on.
If your current or previous job is difficult or impossible due to your injuries (or may become difficult), it's reasonable to ask for assistance with finding and keeping a job. Negotiate for services such as job training or college enrollment to protect your future.
Such opportunities may be more affordable than continuous educational support and can give you a much better lifestyle if you're able to get into a lucrative career. Contact a team of personal injury attorneys like Bangel, Bangel, & Bangel to design a negotiation plan that can help you move on after injury.
Share23 February 2015
