Negotiate Your Own Personal Injury Settlement

You Don't Always Need a Lawyer But They Won't Tell You That

Who knows your personal injury case better than you? If you can answer, "nobody", then what's holding you back from negotiating your own fair settlement after you've suffered a bona fide injury through no fault of your own and because of the negligence of another?

An attorney hired to represent you, is rightfully entitled to between 33% and 40% of any damage award received by you as the plaintiff through a trial or settlement. Depending on the extent of your injury, and how much time and effort you are willing to give to resolving your case, you can increase your settlement award by 33% to 40% by "doing it yourself."

Eight out of ten personal injury cases, whether an auto accident, slip and fall, or physician or hospital error, do not go to trial. In other words, there are no official legal maneuverings, just a war of carefully selected words between the two parties. These communications, most often in writing, are designed to insinuate and present evidence that the injured party is willing and prepared to take the matter before a judge if necessary. In truth, it's little more than a game of poker, with bluffing and posturing as the two main techniques.

Many attorneys will not represent a plaintiff if the award is not likely to be substantial. These same attorneys will lead you to believe you do not have a "case", when what they mean is that you do not have a "case" they are interested in pursuing. This is the primary reason less dramatic injury cases are not resolved in the interest of the injured party, and rightfully deserved compensation is not received. If you feel an award of $10,000 is fair compensation for your injury, then be prepared when your lawyer takes $4,000 for writing a few short letters and perhaps making a phone call or two.

Whatever your case involves, it's best to do research on your own, regardless of whether in the end you decide to leave the paperwork to the attorneys, or "do it yourself." A wealth of information is available at your fingertips and two of the very best, and easiest to navigate websites are www.nolo.com and www.findlaw.com.