Settlement Statement of Personal Injury Case and Receipt
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FAQ
An average personal injury settlement amount is anywhere between $3,000 and $75,000.Of course, most cases fall in between the very high and very low end of average settlements. There are also outliers you've probably heard about people getting settlements that are millions of dollars.
A general rule is 75% to 100% higher than what you would actually be satisfied with. For example, if you think your claim is worth between $1,500 and $2,000, make your first demand for $3,000 or $4,000. If you think your claim is worth $4,000 to $5,000, make your first demand for $8,000 or $10,000.
A settlement can take anywhere from two weeks up to a couple years. It is always smart to contact an attorney as soon as possible after receiving initial medical treatment so they can start working on your case.
Many plaintiffs' attorneys were trained to use one of two methods for calculating pain and suffering. The first method is to multiply the plaintiff's actual damages (medical bills and lost wages) by a certain number, generally between 1 and 5 (depending on the severity of the injury).
Both parties involved in the accident should be identified. The letter should state that the payment is full and final, and that the injured party releases the responsible party from all present and future claims. If applicable, terms and conditions for payment should be mentioned.
Other factors include the amount of insurance coverage available and the type of case. That said, from my personal experience, the typical payout for pain and suffering in most claims is under $15,000. This is because most claims involve small injuries.
How Is a Settlement Paid Out? Compensation for a personal injury can be paid out as a single lump sum or as a series of periodic payments in the form of a structured settlement. Structured settlement annuities can be tailored to meet individual needs, but once agreed upon, the terms cannot be changed.
The common method used to calculate a personal injury settlement amount is to add up your hard costs, then add one to five times that amount for your pain and suffering. The tricky part of calculating a fair settlement amount is including the full value of your special damages and justifying your general damages.