subject: Arizona Injury Attorneys - Lawyers & How They Negotiate Personal Injury Settlements [print this page] If you have just been injured in an accident through no fault of your own, you may end up in a sea of lawyers without knowing which one to choose. After being injured, many people turn to lawyers for help in protecting their rights and helping to make sure they're reasonably compensated for lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering.
Depending on the accident, medical attention may or may not be required. In a car accident, for example, the individual who caused the accident will be responsible for any fixes to the victim's automobile, along with the previously mentioned compensation. Most people hire a lawyer right after the accident takes place although settlement negotiations will usually not start till after medical treatment has concluded.
After concluding medical treatment, lawyers will start to negotiate with the insurance company which represents the person who prompted the accident. In this time, lawyers will assess the sum of medical bills, doctor reports and diagnosis, lost wages, damages and will attempt to estimate a fair amount of pain and suffering. Following getting your approval, personal injury lawyers will submit a proposal to the insurance adjuster for consideration. It generally requires 30 days for a response, which is anticipated to be a counteroffer. At the moment, lawyers will explain the offer with their client and see if a fair settlement can be reached. Otherwise, the lawyer will make another letter which explains that the adjuster's offer is not acceptable and will, once more, request that the case be settled for a slightly lesser amount than the original proposed amount. This scenario is a test of both sides as the adjuster would like to settle the case for as little as possible while the lawyers want to ensure that their clients are properly compensated. After several letters to and fro, and perhaps some phone calls, the lawyers will advise their client when a fair offer has been reached. Whilst they can't advise their client on what to do, they can advise them on the fairness of the offer and how that figure may adjust if the case were to proceed to trial.
For reasons of each time and expense, most personal injury cases are settled out of court. As soon as a trial is granted, attorney fees and court costs raise significantly. An attorney gets a pre-negotiated amount of the client's settlement, but receives a bigger percentage if the case proceeds to trial. There are a number of lawyers who deal with personal injury cases and it is always important to choose one who is most trustworthy and would seem most knowledgeable with regards to the process.
The information in this article is used for informational purposes only. It shouldn't be considered as, or used in place of, professional legal advice. Individuals who need legal help should seek advice from one of the lawyers in their place who can assist them with their questions and concerns.
