You may be in a hurry to settle your claim if you suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle collision in Virginia and have mounting medical bills and no income to pay them. However, if you want to obtain all the compensation you deserve in your settlement, you need to wait until you reach your maximum medical improvement (MMI) to accept a settlement offer.
Understanding What Your MMI Is
You will have reached your maximum medical improvement when you fully recover from your injuries or recover as much as possible. If you will not make a complete recovery, it is the stage in your medical care when your doctor can give you a final prognosis and inform you of the future medical treatments you will need. It could take you months or longer to reach your MMI if you suffered more than one injury—which is common in motorcycle collision cases.
Reasons to Wait Until You Reach Your Maximum Medical Improvement to Settle Your Motorcycle Crash Claim
While it can be frustrating to wait months or longer until you reach your MMI to settle your claim with the insurance company, you will increase the chances of obtaining the maximum recovery you are entitled to under Virginia law if you do this. Here are four reasons it is essential to delay settling your claim until you reach your MMI:
- Prognosis. Your doctor will not know if you will fully recover from your injuries or what future medical treatments you will need if you have long-term injuries until you reach your MMI. You need this information to know the amount of compensation you should request for future medical expenses in your settlement.
- Value of your claim. You are entitled to your future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering if you will not fully recover from your injuries. A knowledgeable motorcycle accident lawyer would not have enough information to accurately value your future damages until you reach your MMI.
- Payment of future costs. If you settle your case before you reach your maximum medical improvement, you may not be able to pay for all the medical treatments you need in the future and may not realize how your injuries affect your ability to continue working.
- Final settlement. Once you settle your claim with the negligent driver’s insurance company, it is a final settlement of your case. You will not be able to reopen your claim or file a new one if you later discover that your injuries are more serious than you initially thought.
Request a Free Consultation Today
Were you hurt in a motorcycle collision that was not your fault in Virginia Beach or Norfolk? Our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers are here to go up against the negligent driver’s insurance company for all you deserve in your settlement. Call our Norfolk office at 757.625.1214 or fill out our online form to schedule your free initial consultation today to learn more about how we can assist you.
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