Most personal injury cases that go to court will never see a trial. They will usually end with a settlement, which is an agreement between the parties on damages.
FindLaw explains a personal injury settlement requires negotiations. You should never accept the first offer that comes your way without taking the time to carefully consider it.
Consider the damages
Upon receiving any settlement, you need to assess whether it will properly cover your losses. You want to make sure it will handle any medical bills and other costs you have had so far and those you will have in the future related to the injury. You also want to consider other losses and how well the damages seek to cover those. Many times, a settlement offer is low, to begin with, and you will have to negotiate to raise the offer.
Look for other issues
The settlement may include other provisions. You should make sure that you look at every aspect of the agreement. Make sure there are no other points that you object to, such as limiting your access to insurance coverage or taking away benefits you currently receive.
Think about your case
You will always have more leverage with a personal injury settlement negotiation if you have a strong case. You will want to look at how your case stacks up to other cases in which people won jury verdicts. Consider the evidence you have and any weaknesses. These aspects will all play into how much negotiation power you have and whether you have the ability to request a better settlement offer.
A settlement is quite common in a personal injury case, and the chances are your case will end in one. However, you should never jump at an offer before you consider all the aspects of your case.