Law

Sherman Oaks Personal Injury Settlements: Expectations

Sherman Oaks Personal Injury Settlements
If you have been hurt in Sherman Oaks through another’s carelessness, knowing how personal injury settlements are calculated can assist you in understanding the process with assurance. Settlements are intended to reimburse victims for their damages, but the amount received is determined by several things.

1. How Are Personal Injury Settlements Determined?

Several major factors determine settlement values:
  • Medical Costs: Pays for hospital charges, treatments, rehabilitation, and future medical expenses.
  • Lost Income: Reimbursement for lost work time, lost earning capacity, and future income.
  • Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical suffering, emotional anguish, and reduced quality of life.
  • Damage to Property: Compensation for repairs to vehicles or other personal property damaged in the accident.

2. The Personal Injury Settlement Process

The process includes several steps:
  • Filing an Insurance Claim: Your lawyer negotiates with the at-fault party’s insurance company to recover reasonable compensation.
  • Negotiations: Insurers tend to make low initial offers; your attorney will respond with a demand based on your real damages.
  • Mediation: If negotiations break down, mediation can be employed to try to reach an agreement before litigation.
  • Litigation: If a reasonable settlement cannot be reached, your case could go to trial.

3. How Long Does a Settlement Take?

The time frame is different based on the severity of the injury and disputes over liability. Complex cases can take months or more, and some settle in a few weeks.

4. Do You Need an Attorney?

Self-negotiation is available, but insurance providers tend to pay as little as possible. An experienced personal injury attorney will defend your rights, optimize your recovery, and keep you away from traps. If you are seeking a personal injury case in Sherman Oaks, hiring a lawyer can do wonders for your settlement amount. This article was written by Alla Tenina. Alla is a top Orange County personal injury attorney, and the founder of Tenina Law. She has experience in bankruptcies, real estate planning, and complex tax matters. The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. This website contains links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; the ABA and its members do not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.