If you are injured in a truck accident caused by a negligent trucker or trucking company, you want to settle your claim as quickly as possible so that you have the money you need to pay for your medical and living expenses while you are off work recovering. However, you also want to receive the maximum amount of compensation you deserve for your injuries. In order to achieve this goal, you should wait to settle your case until you reach your maximum medical improvement (MMI).
What Is Your Maximum Medical Improvement?
Your MMI is the stage of your medical treatment where you have fully recovered from your injuries or have recovered as much as possible. When you will not make a full recovery, this is the stage where your physician can give you a final prognosis of how your injuries will impact the rest of your life, the medical treatments that you will need, and the medical expenses you will incur.
You may have suffered more than one injury in your truck accident. The length of time it takes you to reach your MMI can be different for each of these injuries. This can make it take longer to reach the point where you are ready to settle your claim.
Why You Should Wait Until You Reach Your MMI
If you want to receive all the compensation that you deserve, you will need to wait until you reach your MMI to negotiate your settlement. Here are two reasons why this is important:
- Under Virginia law, you are entitled to be compensated for your past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You cannot determine the amount of your damages until you fully recover or receive a final prognosis from your doctor.
- Your settlement with the insurance company will be final once it is completed. You would not be permitted to reopen your claim if you later discover that your injuries are more serious than you thought when you agreed to your settlement. Because of this, it is crucial to include all of your future as well as past damages in your settlement.
Our experienced truck accident lawyers can help you determine when you reach your MMI and how much your claim is worth so that you receive a fair settlement from the insurance company. To learn about our track record of success in these cases and your legal options, call our Norfolk office to schedule a free case evaluation today.
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