How do settlement negotiations work?

Once the other side has evaluated your case, they will call or write to us and make their first "offer" of settlement.  We always demand much more money than your case is really worth.  The amount of the other side's first "offer" will usually be much less than your case is really worth.  Contrary to what many clients believe, the other side does not make their "offers" to you based on the amount of money we "demand" (which the other side knows is always inflated).  Instead, the other side always independently evaluates each case by starting out at zero (no matter how much we "demand").  Then, the other side usually begins making offers to you based on the amount you still owe for medical bills (which means they usually start out offering you nothing for your "pain and suffering"), because they know they owe you at least that much, even if they did not have to pay you for "pain and suffering".  Then, the other side usually begins increasing their offers to you by small amounts until you agree to settle.  But, the other side's offer's will not exceed the value of your case as determined by the list of factors described above in paragraph #53 (which have nothing to do with how much we "demanded" for your case). 

Once the other side makes their first "offer", you alone determine when to settle your case.  The less money you are willing to settle for, the sooner your case can settle.  The more money you want, the longer it will take for your case to settle.  Most clients choose a balanced approach (so they get something fair, but aren't forced to wait years to get it).  Clients who insist on an immediate settlement, almost always receive much, much less than clients who are patient (even when the injuries are exactly the same).

Usually, each subsequent move in settlement negotiations involves us (with your permission) reducing the amount of our "demand" (which is always inflated), and the other side increasing the amount of their "offer" (which is always deflated).  So, usually the longer we negotiate with the other side, the more money you will receive.  Usually, after several weeks of negotiations, most clients settle their case "out-of-court" without having to file a law suit against the other side.  So generally, once your doctor discharges you from medical care, and once we receive your doctor's special final medical report (and all of your other medical records), your case can usually be settled in about 90 days.  But, when the other side blames you or your driver for the accident, or where the other side disputes the medical findings of your doctor, it can take much longer.