Slip and Fall Settlement Amount? Here’s How To Know You Possible Case Settlement Value.

Slip and Fall Settlement Amount? Here's How To Know You Possible Case Settlement Value and How to Maximize Settlement in a Slip and Fall Injury.

Hey guys! Slip and fall accident lawyer Scott DeSalvo here.

I’m going to share some good news with you.   I was able to settle slip and fall settlement amount of $142,500 for a broken ankle.

Now that’s a great outcome for this kind of case. I’m going to share with you how I got that slip and fall settlement amount for my client.  I want to do this so you have some idea of how to get a great slip and fall settlement amount.

Fall down injury cases can be tough.

You know, I always tell my clients and I’ve repeated it in a lot of my videos, that slip and fall cases are just tough cases to prove. A lot of injury attorneys avoid slip and fall cases for that reason.  That’s because insurance companies defend them, meaning they usually don’t settle them pre-suit before you file a lawsuit.

Now I’ve litigated a lot of these cases over the years and I’ve really learned what to do on the case in order to position them for maximum value.  I’ve gotten pretty good at resolving these cases but I also don’t kid myself.   

Lots of lawyers would like you to believe that the lawyer has some magical ability to turn a bad case into a good case. Sometimes we can.   But usually it’s a matter of taking what we’re given in the case and maximizing value. 

So a good lawyer can sometimes improve a “sort of not so great case.”  But a good case is still a good case and a bad case is still a bad case.

What did I do in this recent settlement to maximize value and force the other side to come to the settlement table?

First, I was able to show through government documents, that the stairway my clients fell on, had been cited by the city of Chicago building department several times.

Being able to prove that the stairway was dangerous is a key part in proving the case and increasing the slip and fall settlement amount.

Second, I created demonstrative evidence. 

In other words, diagrams which showed exactly how the broken staircase caused the fall. 

Believe it or not, breaking down exactly how the fall occurred is really important to a jury at trial but also to the insurance company lawyers.  It makes them nervous if we’re very good at describing exactly how the problem with the stairs caused the injury.

Third, I personally scoured the medical records for evidence of how severe the injury was. 

I looked at medical literature showing that this sort of fracture would probably result in arthritis and could result in future surgery for my client.

Doing this sort of research and homework increases the value of the case. 

Settlements Happen Because of FEAR.

Remember, insurance companies settle cases when they become afraid of what will happen at trial.

If you want to settle your case, you cannot work with a disorganized lawyer.  You cannot show the insurance company that you do not have your 'ducks in a row'.

Instead, you have to demonstrate that you are ready to go to trial and win.  Even if a tough case, this works because a great personal injury lawyer can turn the tables, even if a case has problems or challenges.

Now was this a good case to begin with?  Yes, it was. But the hard work I put into it definitely did two things.

First, it brought the insurance company to the settlement table. Otherwise they would have taken us to trial which is always risky. 

Second, it increased the slip and fall settlement amount that we were able to get because the insurance company knew that we had a good theory of liability, how it happened, and we were able to explain all parts of the damages that my client suffered.

Now every case and injury is different. Hiring a lawyer who is experienced in personal injury law can mean a better outcome for you.

Since every case is different, and some cases are stronger than others, you shouldn’t take the information in this video as a promise that I’ll be able to do the same in your case.

How To Know If You Have A Good Case

In all cases, including slip and fall cases, there are some factors that mean you probably have a good case with a good slip and fall settlement amount.  Here are the factors.

• The condition of the property is scary looking and dangerous.
• The condition of the property which made you fall and get hurt was created by the landlord or was there for a long time.
• The injuries are serious
• You followed doctors orders.
• You got an excellent slip and fall lawyer involved early in the process.

If these are true, you definitely will maximize your slip and fall settlement amount.

If you’ve been injured, you should consult a lawyer because there are time deadlines to file a claim or lawsuit.  So you should talk to a lawyer immediately. A lawyer can manage the case from the beginning and that means a better outcome for you.

I know contacting a lawyer is stressful, so here is what I offer you:

• Free call and free consultation.
• All of your questions answered for free.
• We are nice to talk to. No high pressure.
• Only hire me if you want to, no obligation.
• No money out of your pocket. I only get paid if you hire me and when we win your case.

I’m available for free consultation.  You can call me free 24 hours a day at:

I hope the information in this video helps you and if I can help you, I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks.