There is no such thing as an average spinal cord injury (SCI) settlement. If you file an SCI claim or lawsuit, what you receive in a settlement will depend on your quantifiable and subjective losses. Who you choose as your legal representation can also impact your settlement amount.
Get legal help as you consider the average spinal cord injury settlement relative to the circumstances of your situation. Talk with a Bellevue spinal cord injury lawyer with a track record of success. Your attorney will assess your injury losses and craft an argument designed to prove that you deserve maximum compensation for the harm that you’ve suffered.
What Is the Average Spinal Cord Injury Settlement in Washington State?
The average settlement for spinal cord injuries in Washington State varies based on the specifics of a case. Your Bellevue catastrophic injury lawyer will account for various factors to determine the value of your case, such as:
- Injury severity: Your attorney will consider whether you’re coping with paralysis or chronic pain, as these issues can require care and treatment for an extended period.
- Medical expenses: Expect your lawyer to look at your current and future medical costs, including those for long-term therapies to manage your SCI.
- Loss of income: Your attorney wants you to be compensated if you can’t work due to your injury. Alternatively, if your injury will prevent you from working the same job you held previously, your lawyer can ask for compensation based on your diminished earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering: Your lawyer can request money for your post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), physical discomfort, and other pain and suffering that you experience as a result of your SCI.
Your lawyer will commit substantial time, energy, and resources to help you get the optimal SCI case results. If your attorney receives a settlement offer, you can review the proposal with them. Next, you can assess the offer’s pros and cons with your lawyer and make an informed decision on it.
How to Get a Spinal Cord Injury Settlement
Before you can obtain an average or better spinal cord injury settlement, you will have to file a claim or lawsuit from anyone who caused you to get hurt. Per the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 4.16.080, you generally have up to three years to pursue compensation from any liable parties.
You could get money for your SCI through an insurance claim. For example, you are injured in an auto accident, and the other driver involved was speeding at the time of the incident. In this situation, your Bellevue car accident lawyer can negotiate a settlement with a liable party’s insurance company for you.
Of course, even if your attorney engages in settlement negotiations, there’s no guarantee that they’ll get an average settlement offer for your SCI. Thus, your lawyer may advise you to proceed with a lawsuit. After your lawsuit is filed, your attorney can negotiate a settlement with an at-fault party. Or, if your case requires a trial, your lawyer can present their argument in court.
Tips to Negotiate a Fair Spinal Cord Injury Settlement
Have your SCI lawyer handle your settlement negotiations. Your attorney will encourage you to treat your injury and continue to do so for as long as necessary. Meanwhile, they will keep you informed about whether a settlement offer is made and, if so, explain the short- and long-term implications of any decision you make on it.
Notify your lawyer if a liable party or their insurance company contacts you at any point after you file an SCI claim or lawsuit. What you say to either of these parties about your injury can compromise your case. Let your attorney communicate about your case for you, and they can help you avoid saying things that could hurt your chances of achieving your desired results.
Establish realistic goals for your settlement negotiations. Remember, your injury is incredibly serious, and the costs you incur because of it can affect you for years. If you accept a lowball settlement, you may wind up paying most of these costs out of pocket. On the other hand, if you decline a settlement that falls short of what you want, you still have the option to go to trial.
Our Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers Are Committed to Getting You the Settlement That You Deserve
You want an average spinal cord injury settlement from any parties responsible for your trauma. How you treat your settlement negotiations has far-reaching effects. With proven SCI attorneys on your side, you are well-equipped to obtain a settlement that will serve you well now and in the future.
Premier Law Group is a Washington personal injury law firm that’s big enough to care and small enough to win. Our team has served thousands of clients, including many involved in SCI cases. Give our attorneys the opportunity to help you with your spinal cord injury settlement negotiations. To find out more, request a free case review.
Jason at premier law group is truly an outstanding individual. Our particular case was not something that their firm usually sees but they were more than willing to help us and give us all of the information they had available. I can't recommend them enough.