Being hurt sucks, and it sucks even more when it's someone else's fault.  That is why personal injury settlements are paid.  They pay you back for damages, medical bills, and a slew of other things.  Not all settlements are the same, and it's very hard to calculate the average personal injury settlement.  It's a tug of war between you and their insurance company because you want the most possible amount of money and their insurance want to pay the least.

There are a few things that can help you maximize your personal injury lawsuit settlement.  You may be thinking things like limping in court and turning on the water-works in front of the judge, these may help but there are a few more common sense things that will help you maximize your settlement.  When you're hurt, the last thing you want to do is deal with attorneys and judges but sometimes these are necessary to get the most that you can.

Let's take a look at a few ways to get the most from personal injury settlements.

If you intend on getting the most cash from your personal injury settlement you need a lawyer.  Lawyer's fees usually range from 30-40% (the max here in California is 40%).  Having a good lawyer on your side will dramatically increase your settlement.  The more you get paid, the more they get paid.

The secondary benefit of having legal representation is that they do the difficult work for you.  If you are down with a bad back or can't walk, it will be very difficult to frequently maneuver yourself back and forth between home and court.  They will do most of the leg work for you.  Also, lawyers will take care of most of the paperwork and legal mumbo-jumbo that the average layperson does not know how to successfully do.  

You might be thinking that these things don't add up paying 40% for a lawyer, but the final outcome is well worth it.

All throughout the process from accident to settlement keep records of everything.  Give these notes to your lawyer so that they can see if anything in there can help your case out.  Maybe the doctor said something wacky, or the claims adjuster was a jerk-note these things down and they may help your personal injury settlement amount.  

Also make sure that you get a copy of any documentation or paperwork that's passed around during the settlement process.  Ask for a copy of everything, especially anything from the other insurance company.  There may be things in there that can help your case out.

It's very understandable to be upset when you're injured and an insurance company is standing between you and paid medical bills, but being difficult and hostile will only bog things down.  If the claims adjuster is a jerk, jot it down in your notes but don't retaliate.  When you're cordial (you certainly don't have to be nice) their insurance company is much more likely to give you what you want, rather than fighting with them every move they make.  Save the fighting for your lawyer, it's their job.

Being hurt is certainly difficult, but by following these steps you are much more likely to receive fair compensation for the damages.