The Importance of Waiting for Maximum Medical Improvement Before Settling an Injury Claim
Suppose you were in a car accident, harmed by medical malpractice, or sustained injuries in any other type of accident. In that case, it is generally reasonable to believe that you will begin to recover fully or partially given time and when you follow your doctor’s orders. Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) is the state you are at after an accident where you have either healed entirely or as much as you possibly can.
When the negligence of another party caused your unintentional injury accident, then you may choose to file a claim against them to obtain financial compensation for your damages. Damages you likely incurred as a result of an injury accident can include the cost of your medical expenses related to your physical bodily harm. When assessing what your injury claim is worth, knowing all of your losses is essential.
Understanding your rights and what you are owed from a personal injury claim ensures you are better positioned to obtain fair and full compensation covering your financial losses. Since the claims process can be challenging to navigate alone, you may call Monaco Law PC to speak with a South Jersey personal injury lawyer for legal assistance to help you get the most from your claim.
Maximum Medical Improvement and Injury Settlement
Claimants only have two years from the date of their accident to file a New Jersey or Pennsylvania personal injury claim due statutes of limitation. So, while it is advisable not to delay starting the process, after you have begun a claim, patience and waiting for MMI is incredibly important.
Once you reach MMI, you will be able to calculate how expensive your medical treatment was and, if you should expect to need medical care in the future, how costly that will be. This allows you to more accurately value your claim to account for all the medical expenses you incurred or will require later on due to your accident.
Settling too early before you know precisely what your medical needs will be can mean that you will obtain compensation far lower than what you need for your actual damages, leading you to have to pay for costs not covered by your settlement out of your own pocket. Since there are only limited instances where a settled claim can be reopened, and doing so is very difficult, ensuring that you obtain adequate and full compensation is essential. This is why it is critical to reach MMI before accepting compensation.
Speak to a New Jersey and Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorney Today
To learn more about your legal options and for help with an injury claim, you are welcome to call our South Jersey personal injury lawyer at Monaco Law PC at (609) 277-3166 for our New Jersey office and (215) 546-3166 for our office in Pennsylvania to discuss your case today.
We are a New Jersey and Pennsylvania personal injury law firm serving Atlantic County, Bucks County, Burlington County, Cape May County, Camden County, Chester County, Cumberland County, Delaware County, Gloucester County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia, Ocean County, Salem County, and all of South Jersey.
Source:
lis.njleg.state.nj.us/nxt/gateway.dll/statutes/1/112/308
