Had to choose between settling my slip and fall case or taking it to court...

I slipped at a grocery store in Fresno last year, broke my wrist pretty bad. The store offered me $8,000 to settle, but my lawyer said I could maybe get $15,000 if we went to trial. I took the settlement because I needed the money for medical bills right away, but now I wonder if I made a mistake... the bills ended up being more than $8,000 anyway. Has anyone else had to pick between a quick settlement and waiting for a bigger payout?

2 comments

2 Comments

cameronf8823d ago

I get where you're coming from with "I took the settlement because I needed the money for medical bills right away" but honestly $8,000 for a broken wrist sounds super low. Most slips and falls at big grocery chains can get way more than that if you let it go to trial, especially with medical bills piling up. Hindsight is 20/20 but taking a quick payout almost always screws you over when the real costs show up later.

the_eva23d ago

My cousin broke his ankle at a Walmart three years ago and took a $12,000 settlement right away. He thought he was being smart until the physical therapy bills hit $6,000 and he needed another surgery. Now he's got a limp and no way to cover the follow up appointments. I always figured a quick payout was the safe move, but seeing how his costs just kept climbing made me realize you really have to think long term with these things.