Tips for Getting the Best Personal Injury Settlement (2024)

Once the personal injury settlement negotiation process starts to heat up in your case, you'll need to have an effective strategy in place. Following these six settlement tips is a great start.

1. Have a Specific Settlement Amount in Mind

In putting together your personal injury settlement demand letter, you figured out a range of what you believe your claim is worth. Before you speak to an insurance adjuster about your demand, decide on a minimum settlement figure you would accept within that range. This figure is for your own information, not something you would reveal to the adjuster. But before the offers and counter-offers start going back and forth, it helps if you already have your bottom line in mind.

Remember, you don't have to cling to the figure you originally set for yourself. If the adjuster points out facts you had not considered but which clearly make your claim weaker, you may have to lower your minimum figure somewhat. And if the adjuster starts with a low settlement offer or a number at or near your minimum—or if you discover evidence that makes your claim stronger—you may want to revise upward. Learn more about factors that affect personal injury settlement value.

2. Do Not Jump at a First Offer

It's standard practice for insurance adjusters to begin negotiations by first offering a very low amount. With this tactic, the adjuster is trying to find out whether you understand what your claim is worth, and your patience.

When a first offer is made, your response should depend on whether it's reasonable but too low, or so low that it's clearly just a tactic to see if you know what you're doing. If the offer is reasonable, you can make a counteroffer that's a little lower than your demand letter amount. That shows the adjuster that you, too, are being reasonable and are willing to compromise. A little more bargaining should quickly get you to a final settlement amount you both think is fair. In these negotiations, don't bother to go over all the facts again. Just emphasize the strongest points in your favor—for example, that the insured was completely at fault.

3. Get the Adjuster to Justify a Low Offer

If in your first conversation, the adjuster makes an offer so low that it's obviously just a negotiating tactic to see if you know what your claim is really worth, do not immediately lower the amount you put in your demand letter. Instead, ask the adjuster to give you the specific reasons why the offer is so low. Make notes of the conversation. Then write a brief letter responding to each of the factors the adjuster has mentioned. Depending on the strength of the adjuster's reasons, you can lower your demand slightly, but wait to see whether the adjuster will budge before going any lower.

The next time you speak with the adjuster, begin by asking for a response to your reply letter. The adjuster should now make you a reasonable offer that can lead to a fair final settlement figure.

Learn more about responding to a low settlement offer.

4. Emphasize Emotional Points in Your Favor

During negotiations, mention any emotional points supporting your claim. If, for example, you have sent the adjuster a particularly strong photo of a smashed car or a severe-looking injury, refer to it. If there was a bottle of beer found in the other driver's car, refer again to the possibility of alcohol use. If similar accidents had occurred in a similar way at that location, remind the adjuster. If your injury interfered with your ability to care for your child, mention that your child suffered as a result. Even though there is no way to put a dollar value on these factors, they can be very powerful in getting an insurance company to settle an accident claim.

5. Wait for a Response

Do not reduce your demand more than once until you have a new offer from the adjuster. Never reduce your demand twice without an intervening increased offer from the adjuster; it's simply not good bargaining.

If the adjuster comes up with more reasons for a low offer, go over each one. Once you have dealt with all the adjuster's arguments, you will either get a reasonable offer, or you will have found out that no reasonable offer is coming and you will have to try to put some additional pressure on the insurance company.

6. Know When To Engage an Attorney

If at some point you feel negotiations are not going as you'd hoped, you might consider talking to a personal injury lawyer, especially if:

1. You are demanding compensation for serious injuries and pain and suffering beyond a few thousand dollars. An insurance adjuster is unlikely to take an unrepresented claimant seriously when claimed damages add up to tens of thousands of dollars or more.
2. You are seeking future damages. If you are claiming lost future income or costs of medical treatment you'll need later, you may want an attorney to work that into a settlement effectively.
3. There is a question of fault. If there is some question as to who was at fault for the underlying accident, you may need an attorney to properly craft your argument.

Learn more about hiring a lawyer or handling your own claim.

7. Put the Settlement in Writing

When you and the adjuster finally agree on a number, immediately confirm the agreement in a letter to the adjuster. The letter can be short and sweet. See this sample settlement confirmation letter to get a feel for what this document might look like.

This article is an excerpt from How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim by Attorney Joseph Matthews (Nolo).