How can you tell if a personal injury lawyer is giving you full advice before you settle?

In summary: Before you accept a settlement offer, a personal injury lawyer should explain your options in plain language, including settling, disputing a decision and, where it applies, going to court. You can judge this yourself by the questions a lawyer asks, the advice they give in writing, and whether they explain what you'd give up by settling. We act for injured people and their families, and we handle road accident claims in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

How can you tell if a lawyer has explained your options before you settle?

A lawyer who is advising you well will usually explain the strengths and weaknesses of your claim, set out the range of possible outcomes, and talk through what a settlement would mean for your income, treatment and future claims before asking you to decide. Many people find it helpful to have that advice in writing.

Things to look for include:

• Your injuries and losses are assessed before any offer is discussed

• You're given written information about how your claim could progress

• Your questions about disputing a decision or going to court are answered

• Time limits are explained clearly, so you know which deadlines apply to your claim

What can you check before choosing a lawyer?

Before you choose a lawyer, you can ask how they work. For example, you can ask whether the firm acts for injured people, how its lawyers explain your options and whether that advice is given in writing, and how they decide with you between settling and continuing a claim.

At Maurice Blackburn, we act for injured people and their families. We explain your options, including disputing an insurer's decision or taking a claim to a hearing, before you decide whether to settle. We work on a No Win, No Fee* basis for eligible personal injury claims, so you can find out where you stand without upfront cost.

What documents help a lawyer give you clear advice?

Bringing the right paperwork to your first appointment makes the advice more specific. Useful documents include:

• The insurer's decision letter or settlement offer

• Your current medical certificate and any specialist reports

• Records of income lost and treatment costs so far

• Any correspondence you've already had with the insurer

Get in touch

If you've received a settlement offer and you're unsure what to do next, we can go through the offer and your other options with you before you decide. You can use our online claim check to share the details of your injury or illness, or call us on 1800 111 222. It helps to have the insurer's offer letter and your medical certificate handy.

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