It
impossible for a lawyer to try every case. Nationally, 98% of
all personal injury cases are settled. Over the last fifteen
years, Mr. Miller has negotiated successful recoveries for over
700 clients, and dealt
with over 500 insurance companies. He believes that a good
settlement comes from addressing the insurance adjustor as if he
were a judge. If a lawyer can convince the insurance company
that he knows the facts and is ready to present them to the
court, the company will settle fairly for what a "typical
jury" might award.
Some
lawyers say, "Knowing what a case is worth is like
forecasting the weather: part science, part intuition." No
one has a crystal ball. In fact, every jury looks at a case with
its collective whole-life experience. Verdicts can vary widely
between similar cases, and are influenced by the skills of the
two lawyers, the chemistry between plaintiff and jurors, and the
judge's own demeanor. The best a lawyer can do is maximize the
odds by preparing a good case. The rest often depends on
"the luck of the draw."
Whether
to accept a settlement or go to trial is easy: just calculate
the odds. Mr. Miller has developed a statistical approach to
valuing cases, using his own data gleaned from 700 settlements,
to which he adds state-wide verdict reports. For more
information on case valuations for specific injuries, visit the
Case Values page.
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