Shepherding The Client In A Personal Injury, Wrongful Death And Accident Case: Steps Of Guidance From The Start Of The Battle To The End
Settlement Of The Personal Injury, Wrongful Death and Accident Case Part Two:
Trial preparation in the personal injury, wrongful death and accident case is about obtaining justice for our community and our clients, even if the case does not go to court. When this is done, then the Alabama personal injury lawyer, wrongful death lawyer and accident trial lawyer is in a position to be able to make an assessment of the value of the personal injury, wrongful death and accident case by taking the following and other factors into account: conduct of the parties, the available insurance coverage, potential defenses, liability, injuries and damages, and where the personal injury, wrongful death and accident case would be heard.
Every personal injury and accident victim’s needs are different. Variables that can influence your willingness to settle your personal injury, wrongful death and accident case and your flexibility include:
- Your financial and medical needs, both short-term and long-term. (How important are the funds to your life, well-being and long-term care needs?)
- The difference between your ideal offer and the proposed settlement offer in your personal injury, wrongful death and accident case. If this gap is small, you may be inclined to accept. If there is a big gulf between your desire and the offer, you may want to press on with the fight.
- Your need for closure. In some personal injury, wrongful death and accident cases, personal injury and accident victims just want to conclude negotiations fast and “get their lives back to normal.” In other the personal injury, wrongful death and accident cases, the need for justice is higher. This difference can also influence your decision to press on or not.
- The strength of your personal injury, wrongful death and accident case. How compelling is the case that you can potentially build? Are there holes the defense can exploit? What is the likelihood that you will win at trial?
- The opinion of your seasoned Alabama personal injury lawyer, wrongful death lawyer and accident trial lawyer. Odds are, this is (hopefully) your first time being injured and potentially launching a personal injury, wrongful death or accident case lawsuit. Your personal injury lawyer, wrongful death lawyer and accident trial lawyer on the other hand, has years of experience. Based on that experience, he or she can suggest your most likely path to the best success, as defined by your needs and values.
- Your state of mind. Are you capable of dealing with the stress and uncertainty of a trial in your personal injury, wrongful death or accident case?
The short answer and a summary of when to settle your personal injury, wrongful death or accident case is when you know and believe that you have gotten every penny that you can out of the case and are reasonably satisfied with the outcome. Your personal injury, wrongful death and accident trial lawyer should be there to help guide you through this process.
Winning a case or a settlement can be an enormous relief. But if you don’t have effective financial plans in place, your victory – and peace of mind – may be short lived.
It is generally a good idea for Alabama personal injury, wrongful death and accident clients to work with CPAs, tax attorneys, and financial professionals to plan for the near and far term. Your recovery may need to be used to pay for a long-term rehab, therapy and ongoing medical treatment – as well as to supplement you for lost earnings and income potential. It can get confusing and complicated, tax wise and otherwise. A well connected Alabama personal injury lawyer, wrongful death lawyer and accident trial lawyer can help you find reputable people to deal with your award or settlement.
Aaron Gartlan is a graduate of Troy University and the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law who focuses his practice exclusively on representing those injured by the wrongdoing of others. He is member of the National Trial Lawyers Association’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. In addition to his legal practice, Aaron teaches Business Law as an adjunct instructor at Troy University’s Sorrell College of Business and serves as a field artillery sergeant in the Alabama National Guard.
