Getting by in the aftermath of a truck accident can be tough, which is why you might be tempted to take a settlement offer proposed by the truck company that was involved in the wreck. Although a settlement might give you a quick infusion of cash that can provide some immediate financial relief, it might not be in your long-term interests. Therefore, before you agree to settle your case, you should consider a number of factors:
- Evidence of negligence: To win your case you’re going to have to prove liability, which in the truck accident context means not only showing that the trucker who caused the accident is to blame, but also that he or she was on the clock and performing his or her job duties at the time of the accident. Consider witness testimony and documentary evidence that supports your claim.
- The value of your case: You can’t accurately gauge the appropriateness of a settlement offer if you don’t know what your claim is worth. Therefore, carefully think through your economic and non-economic damages, including trying to put a value on your pain and suffering and your loss of enjoyment of life.
- Comparative negligence: If you’re found to be partially at fault for your accident, then your award will be reduced by the percentage of fault allocated to you. Therefore, when you’re assessing whether you should take your case to trial, you need to think about comparative negligence so that you know the risk and realistically what you might recover.
Be thorough in assessing your settlement offer
These are some of the basic factors that you must consider when addressing a settlement offer. But there are other intangible factors that may come into play. For example, the extent of your immediate need for financial relief and your desire to move on as quickly as possible can also come into play. So, make sure that you take the time needed to fully assess your case and what you want out of it. If you’d like help with that, then consider reaching out to a professional who is well-versed in this area of the law.
