Losing someone close to you will definitely be a huge loss. And although nothing will ever replace the value of the relationship you had with them, being compensated for their death will at least help you meet your financial obligations. And if your loved one suffered a wrongful death, then you can easily get a settlement for such a loss. Below, we look at six tips that you must keep in mind when dealing with a wrongful death settlement.
Know The Amount You Want
Always have a very clear idea of the exact amount you want as a settlement. Many people tend to have a very vague figure in mind. And in some cases, they will not even have decided anything other than they want something ‘high enough’. This is a very bad idea. If you do not know what amount you want, you will are more susceptible to agree to a lower settlement amount. You might jump at the first offer without negotiating for a higher amount. It is to avoid such issues that you are advised to first fix your mind on a settlement amount.
Use Emotional Justifications
People are driven by emotions. This is especially true for settlements that deal with wrongful deaths. Realize that you are the victim here. All the people in the case, right from the police officers to the courts sympathize with you. Even the accused might be sympathizing with you. As such, you must consider using emotional justifications as a tool to increase the settlement amount. For example, if your husband died due to a workplace death and you have 3 kids to take care of, then highlight the difficulty of raising the children and ask for a bigger compensation. Never be too shy about this. Remember that it is about the future of your children. And considering that your husband has passed away, it is your right to get a fair compensation that will ensure the financial security of your home, at least until the kids grow up.
Always Let The Attorney Handle The Settlement
Hire an excellent attorney who has enough experience in handling wrongful death settlement cases. Do make sure that they have a good track record of netting high compensation amounts for their clients. It is better that you allow a wrongful death lawyer to deal with the case entirely rather than involve yourself in it. The death of the loved one will already have shaken you emotionally. As such, dealing with complicated arguments about how much to pay for the death of the person can be very stressful. So, tell the lawyer a settlement amount you expect and leave them to handle the rest.
Be Patient
One important thing you must remember is to remain patient when dealing with the other party. The accused and their lawyer will try every trick they know to make you restless and force you into accepting a lower settlement. After all, it is they who are paying. And no matter how much they sympathize with you, they will always try to make you settle for less compensation. So, always remain patient and trust your lawyer to handle them. As long as you don’t give up, your lawyer can turn the tables and force them to pay the exact settlement you want.
Ask For A Written Commitment
Just because you entered into a verbal agreement with the other party regarding the compensation amount does not mean that it will hold true. Keep in mind that verbal agreements have zero legal value in the eyes of the law. As far as the law is concerned, it is just a private agreement between two parties, not a legally enforceable one. To enforce it legally, you need to get the agreement written on paper. So, ask for a written commitment from the other party clearly mentioning the compensation amount.
Choose To Receive Payments Immediately
Some settlements will take years to be fully paid off. And understandably, this is not at all ideal. So, if you can get the settlement quickly even if you have to lower the amount, it is recommended that you do so. This is also true for situations when your case is yet to go to trial. Maybe you are waiting for the court to award you higher compensation. However, you should understand that some trials will take two or three years to complete. Do you have enough time to wait? If not, you should prioritize receiving immediate payments rather than a higher compensation.
I like that this article pointed out that most people will empathize with your loss, so you should use emotions when pleading your case. My friend has a loved one die in a car accident, so he family is considering hiring a wrongful death attorney. Do you have any tips for choosing an attorney?