After a serious accident, you want to recover money as quickly as possible so that you can focus on your recovery. But securing the financial resources you deserve isn’t as easy as you may think. Although a lot of personal injury cases result in settlement, far too often plaintiffs are left with a recovery that falls well short of what they need and deserve.
That’s why before heading into your mediation you need to have a solid game plan. But what does that entail?
How to adequately prepare for mediation
There are several things you need to do to prepare for your mediation. Here are some of them:
- Know the risks of taking your case to trial and your likelihood of success if you end up litigating your case in front of a judge or jury.
- Know the true value of your case so that you have a realistic expectation of where your settlement should land.
- Gather evidence and be prepared to present it in a persuasive fashion.
- Leave your emotions at the door, as mediation is an opportunity to negotiate and letting your emotions into the mix may stall talks in a way that’s disadvantageous to you.
- Have a settlement range in mind.
- Be ready to compromise on your settlement.
- Have opening statements prepared.
You should treat your mediation like you would a trial. Be armed with strong legal arguments, and be prepared to counter the defense’s position. Thorough preparation could be key to a positive outcome in your case.
Don’t blindly enter your mediation
All too often, accident victims go into their mediation without an adequate plan. This is a huge mistake that leaves you vulnerable to a poor outcome. So, be proactive and don’t let that happen to you. Instead, start working now to develop your case and position yourself for a beneficial and hopefully successful mediation.