How Do Attorneys Handle Settlement Negotiations in Injury Cases?

Your personal injury lawyer is a key player in the success of your East Hartford, CT injury case. A lawyer starts by helping you understand if you have a case and then takes over fielding calls from the insurer and making sure all your filings and paperwork are done in a timely and correct manner. But your lawyer has an even bigger job: that of negotiator.

How Does Your East Hartford, CT Personal Injury Lawyer Handle Settlement Negotiations?

Ultimately, the goal is always to handle the negotiations in a way that will maximize your compensation while avoiding the time, expense, and uncertainty of a trial, if possible. Most personal injury cases get resolved through negotiated settlements rather than court verdicts because that’s usually in everyone’s best interests.

Case Preparation and Valuation

Your attorney has a lot to do before ever actually hitting the negotiating table. They will need to investigate the accident itself to understand the strength of your case and all the evidence available. Then they’ll need to collect all this evidence, decide what’s most valuable, and piece everything together to make a strong case for who is liable and how much you should be compensated for.

The Demand Letter

Once everything has been calculated, your attorney will send a strongly worded demand letter to the insurance company or at-fault party. This letter must lay out all the facts and arguments for liability, itemize all the damages and provide supporting documentation, and give a specific demand settlement number.

Your attorney will usually advise you to give a number that’s higher than you really need to allow some room to negotiate. The insurance company typically responds with the number that’s too low for the same reason. The goal is to meet somewhere in the middle.

Dealing With the Response

Insurance companies usually respond with a counteroffer, and, as mentioned, this is often a lowball offer. At this point, your attorney will analyze their offer, counter it with evidence and legal precedent, and communicate professionally but firmly to create a clear written record.

Entering Back-and-Forth Negotiations

There may be multiple rounds of back-and-forth negotiations at this point. Your attorney will use various strategies, depending on what’s right for your situation. In some cases, they may lean hard into the evidence to show strong proof of liability and of your losses. Other times, the best tack may be to threaten litigation.

In a different situation, it might be best to be patient and hold back. Your attorney may also highlight the weaknesses in the defensive position to urge them to come to a reasonable settlement. Your lawyer will take care of all these steps to protect you from pressure tactics designed to get you to sign a settlement too early for less than you are owed.

A skilled attorney makes a big difference. Reach out to us now at the Adler Law Group, LLC in East Hartford, CT for help. Our attorneys have over a decade of local experience, and your interests are always our highest priority.

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