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Free ConsultationIn theory, every person with valid grounds to file a civil lawsuit over a personal injury has the right to progress their case to a civil courtroom, where a civil judge or jury will make a final ruling about whether they are owed compensation and, if so, how much they should receive. In practice, the vast majority of civil claims—including those built around slipping and tripping accidents—conclude with settlement agreements made out of court and in private between the parties directly involved in the case.
However, just because Philadelphia slip and fall settlements are common does not mean getting fair terms is easy. In fact, you may have substantial difficulty getting paid what you deserve without support from a skilled slip and fall lawyer with experience handling cases like yours in the past.
How Valuable Is a Typical Slip and Fall Settlement?
While there is no shortage of estimations online about the “average” value of settlements for slip and fall claims in Philadelphia, those averages are not particularly useful when it comes to determining a fair value for one specific pending claim. This is mainly because the financial value of a personal injury case depends on what specific injuries and losses the person pursuing that case has sustained, so the question of what constitutes an appropriate amount of restitution may have entirely different answers for different plaintiffs.
That said, there are some damages that frequently tend to be factors in cases of this nature, including but not limited to:
- Costs of medical treatment, including rehabilitative and therapeutic care
- Lost work income, benefits, or earning capacity
- Personal property damage or loss
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish and trauma
- Lost quality of life and other intangible effects of permanent disability/disfigurement
A seasoned legal professional can, among other things, help identify and assign a fair value to all losses resulting from a particular accident.
When to Settle a Slip and Fall Case
Legal counsel can also help ensure that insurance companies and defense counsel do not pressure a slip and fall victim in Philadelphia into accepting a settlement offer too early in the negotiation process. This can be important because, in many situations, these other parties will intentionally make unfairly low offers to injured plaintiffs (knowing they have strong cases) in an attempt to mislead them into undervaluing their claims.
With that in mind, it is generally best to wait a few months—or even longer—after suffering a slip and fall injury before agreeing to settle a related civil claim. That way, the full scope of short- and long-term damages stemming from the accident can become clear. That said, Pennsylvania state law limits virtually every personal injury plaintiff to a maximum of two years after getting hurt to file suit, so time is still crucial in cases like this.
Get Help From a Philadelphia Attorney During the Slip and Fall Settlement Process
Settling any kind of personal injury claim can be a stressful and deceptively complex process, especially if you have never been involved in civil litigation before. However, knowing how to protect your best interests during settlement talks can make those talks much more productive and simple, as can support from dependable legal representation.
If you want to maximize the compensation you receive through a Philadelphia slip and fall settlement, you should make contacting an experienced lawyer your top priority. Call Lowenthal & Abrams, Injury Attorneys, today for a free consultation.
