Should You Sue or Accept a Personal Injury Settlement?

There is always a choice that has to be made during a personal injury case. Sometimes you have to figure out if you are going to go all the way and sue someone in court, or you are going to take the settlement they are offering. And there is no simple answer to such a question. It is impossible for us to say, yes you should accept a settlement, or you should sue, unless we know the full details of the case. But if you need personal injury help in Rockford Illinois, hire a qualified attorney, and take their advice to heart. And now we will assess some of the reasons why you should, or should not, accept a settlement.

What is the Offer?

The most important question you need to ask regarding a settlement is whether the offer they are making is worthwhile or not. If they are offering you a sum that is close enough to what you wanted to get, then you are in a position where accepting the settlement makes a lot of sense. For instance, if you were hoping to get $100,000, and the offer is somewhere between $80,000 to $90,000, you should be jumping on the offer as soon as it is made. It is still lower than what you wanted, but it is a lot of money that you are getting without the frustration of having to go through a trial.

In contrast, if you are going through such a case in Illinois, and the other side is making paltry offers that are not even close to the sum you believe you deserve, then you owe it to yourself to let the case go to trial. Your lawyer will happily prepare the case for you, and they will help you during every step to ensure that you get the verdict you need.

What is your Current Situation?

Beyond the terms of the offer, we also have to take a look at your present situation. Are you in a position where you need the money as soon as possible? If the timing of everything is what matters most to you, then you may want to accept a settlement, as long as the offer is not insulting or completely insignificant. For instance, if we go back to the case where you wanted $100,000 in damages, but you need the money right away, not many months later, then you may be obligated to accept as low as $60,000 or $65,000, simply because are not in a financial position where you are ready to accept waiting a few months for a civil trial to conclude.

So think hard about your current situation, and talk with your attorney to make sure they know what is going on in your life in relation to the case. Then you can make an informed decision about whether you should pull the trigger on the settlement that is being offered, or if you have the patience and financial comfort to go through a trial.