You may think that the evidence you and your lawyer have of your accident will earn you a settlement right away. But the way you behave during the conference will influence your chances. Saying or behaving the wrong way might make the jury lean towards your opponent’s favor.
Use these tips to follow so that you can convince everyone at the conference that you deserve what you’re owed. Sharing information, knowing when to talk, and presenting yourself in an appealing fashion will keep your wallet full and your chances of running into future cases low. Follow these do’s and don’ts so that you come out of the settlement conference a winner.
Don’t Withhold Important Information
You may feel like disclosing whatever information that will help you most with winning a case. However, that can come back to bite you if you’re caught withholding evidence from an incident.
If more questions are raised about the information you provide, then you would be required to answer them, and your answers may include data that shows fault on your part. Playing dumb doesn’t help either, because it makes you look untrustworthy.
Don’t Be Confrontational After Final Decisions
Despite the evidence showing that you were in the right in a case, not all final decisions are made accurately. If the court rules against what you are owed, angrily showing dissatisfaction with the decision won’t win anyone over. Don’t alienate the jury, judges, or other lawyers with insults.
The case may be brought back at a later date. You can express your disagreements with the decision calmly for now, as well as pitch the idea of continuing discussions another time. Making the proposal in a professional manner will increase the chances that it will be considered.
Don’t Bring Up Information Last Minute
Not having all of the evidence and information to help your case at the start can hurt your chances of winning. It makes it harder to answer certain questions about what may have caused your injuries or other problems if you can’t show the costs that you had to pay.
The court may also question if you’re being honest about the situation if you bring up photos or statements regarding the situation that benefit your side late in the game. Even if you suddenly remember that the evidence exists and it is accurate, the court will question your attorney’s competence, as well as whether you’re making things up at the last second to win them over.
Do Be Assertive
A person’s statement sounds more valid if it’s said with conviction. If you’re involved in a case and you know that you were wronged, make it clear that you are owed the settlement by showing strength in what you believe and confidence in the evidence.
This does not involve acting arrogant, rude or confrontational towards anyone on the other side. Instead, disclose your argument in a way that shows the facts without being aggressive. Be calm and ready to answer any questions that come your way, because answering questions quickly and accurately shows competence on your side.
Do Be Prepared
Having everything ready before the conference will save you plenty of trouble if you’re asked for evidence of your claims. This will include photos, videos and phone calls showing the cause of your problem, as well as any statements from witnesses or people directly involved that support your claims. Showing up to the conference early also shows how seriously you’re taking the case.
If you’re not sure what else can serve as evidence and how it can presented, reputable companies such as Settlement Giant can provide information that can be valuable in your case and show how to show it to the court.
Do Be Honest
Telling the truth goes a long way, even if it’s not completely in your favor. Admit if you’ve made a mistake that lead to your problem, as well as what you learned from the incident, and the actions you’ve taken to be able to handle similar situations in the future.
Being honest about your errors and showing willingness to improve shows integrity to the people deciding the case. This can win them over, especially if the opposing party isn’t showing such honestly. It’s also important to be honest with your attorney, who should be able to figure out how your errors can be used to help win the case.
Keep these tips in mind so that you leave your settlement conference not just with what you’re owed, but what you earned.
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