Car Accident Settlement Data Released 2026

The landscape of car accident settlements in the United States has been illuminated by newly released data from February 2026, providing unprecedented insight into what injured parties can expect when seeking compensation. According to analysis published by ConsumerShield on February 3, 2026, the average car accident settlement now stands at approximately $30,416, based on comprehensive data from five law firms. However, this figure represents just the starting point for understanding a complex system where individual settlements can range from a few thousand dollars to several million, depending on numerous critical factors.

This detailed analysis serves as the definitive resource for accident victims, legal professionals, insurance adjusters, and anyone seeking to understand the true financial implications of car accident claims in 2026. The data reveals not just averages, but the intricate web of variables that determine why one person receives $5,000 while another receives $500,000 for seemingly similar accidents.

Understanding the $30,416 Average: What It Really Means

The figure of $30,416 represents a statistical average, but understanding what this number actually signifies is crucial for anyone navigating the settlement process. This average encompasses the entire spectrum of car accident cases, from minor fender-benders resulting in soft tissue injuries to severe collisions causing permanent disabilities or even wrongful death.

When examining this average, it’s essential to recognize that it includes settlements for property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other compensatory damages. The data aggregated from five law firms provides a more reliable snapshot than previous estimates, which often relied on insurance industry data alone or limited case samples.

The multi-firm approach offers several advantages: it captures regional variations in settlement amounts, reflects different legal strategies and negotiation tactics, accounts for diverse client demographics, and represents both settled and litigated cases. This methodology provides a more holistic view of the settlement landscape than single-source data ever could.

Table of Contents:

Breaking Down Settlement Amounts by Injury Severity

The February 2026 data reveals distinct settlement tiers that correlate directly with injury severity, creating a predictable pattern that both claimants and legal professionals can reference when evaluating potential case outcomes.

Minor Injury Settlements: $3,000 to $25,000

Minor injuries typically include soft tissue damage, minor whiplash, temporary sprains and strains, minor cuts and bruises, and short-term medical treatment requirements. These cases generally settle for amounts in the lower range, with the average minor injury settlement hovering around $12,000 to $15,000.

The defining characteristics of minor injury cases include medical treatment lasting less than three months, full recovery with no permanent impairment, minimal impact on daily activities and work, primarily consisting of emergency room visits and physical therapy, and relatively straightforward documentation of damages.

Settlements in this category typically cover actual medical bills, a modest amount for pain and suffering (often calculated as 1.5 to 3 times medical expenses), lost wages for time missed from work, and property damage to the vehicle. Insurance companies are often more willing to settle these cases quickly, as the potential liability is limited and the cost of litigation would exceed the settlement amount.

Moderate Injury Settlements: $25,000 to $75,000

Moderate injuries represent a significant step up in both severity and compensation. These cases typically involve fractures requiring surgical intervention, significant soft tissue injuries requiring extended treatment, herniated or bulging discs, extended recovery periods lasting six months to one year, and some degree of permanent impairment or scarring.

The average settlement for moderate injuries in the February 2026 data ranges from $40,000 to $60,000, though cases can extend beyond this range based on specific circumstances. What elevates these cases into the moderate category is not just the injury severity, but the demonstrable impact on the victim’s quality of life.

Key factors influencing moderate injury settlements include documented physical therapy spanning several months, potential future medical treatment needs, objective medical evidence such as MRI or CT scan results showing structural damage, impact on earning capacity or ability to perform job duties, and the need for specialized medical care beyond general practitioners.

In these cases, insurance companies conduct more thorough investigations and often involve medical experts to evaluate claims. The negotiation process becomes more complex, and having experienced legal representation typically results in settlements 40-60% higher than those obtained by unrepresented claimants.

Severe Injury Settlements: $75,000 to $500,000+

Severe injury cases represent the upper echelon of personal injury settlements, involving life-altering injuries that fundamentally change the victim’s existence. These cases include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis, multiple bone fractures, amputation of limbs, severe burns covering significant body surface area, and injuries requiring multiple surgeries and extended hospitalization.

The February 2026 data shows that severe injury settlements average between $150,000 and $350,000, though exceptional cases can reach into the millions. The dramatic increase in settlement amounts reflects not just higher medical costs, but the long-term and often permanent nature of the damages suffered.

Calculating damages in severe injury cases involves a sophisticated analysis of both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include past and future medical expenses (often involving life care plans prepared by medical economists), lost earning capacity calculated over the victim’s remaining work life, costs of ongoing care and assistance, home and vehicle modifications for accessibility, and rehabilitation and therapy costs extending years into the future.

Non-economic damages in severe injury cases can actually exceed economic damages, particularly when the victim is young or when the injury results in profound life changes. Pain and suffering calculations in these cases often use the “per diem” method (assigning a daily value to suffering) or multipliers of 5 to 10 times medical expenses, depending on jurisdiction and case specifics.

Catastrophic Injury and Wrongful Death Settlements: $500,000 to $10,000,000+

At the highest end of the settlement spectrum are catastrophic injuries and wrongful death cases, where the financial compensation attempts to address truly devastating losses. These cases involve permanent total disability, severe traumatic brain injury with permanent cognitive impairment, complete paralysis, severe burns over large percentages of the body, multiple amputations, or death of the accident victim.

Settlement amounts in these cases routinely exceed $1,000,000 and can reach $10,000,000 or more when multiple factors align: clear liability, substantial insurance coverage or assets, a sympathetic plaintiff, egregious defendant conduct (such as drunk driving), and jurisdiction in a plaintiff-friendly venue.

The February 2026 data indicates that catastrophic cases settled for an average of $1.2 to $2.5 million, though this average is heavily influenced by policy limits and available assets. In cases involving commercial vehicles or multiple defendants, settlements can be substantially higher due to greater insurance coverage.

Critical Factors Affecting Settlement Amounts

While injury severity serves as the primary determinant of settlement value, the February 2026 analysis reveals numerous other factors that can dramatically impact final settlement figures.

Clarity of Liability

Cases with crystal-clear liability—where the defendant’s fault is indisputable—consistently settle for amounts 30-50% higher than comparable cases where fault is contested. Clear liability situations include rear-end collisions, accidents caused by drivers who violated traffic laws, incidents where the at-fault driver received a citation, crashes involving drunk or drugged drivers, and accidents captured on video or witnessed by multiple credible parties.

When liability is disputed, insurance companies become more aggressive in defending claims, knowing that a jury might assign partial blame to the plaintiff. States following comparative negligence rules allow for reduced settlements when the plaintiff bears partial responsibility, creating additional complexity in valuation.

Quality and Completeness of Medical Documentation

The strength of medical documentation can make or break a settlement claim. Cases with comprehensive medical records showing continuous treatment, objective diagnostic findings, consistent symptom reporting, compliance with prescribed treatment plans, and clear causal connection between accident and injuries settle for significantly higher amounts than cases with sparse or inconsistent documentation.

Gaps in medical treatment prove particularly problematic. Insurance adjusters use treatment gaps to argue that injuries weren’t severe or that intervening causes may have contributed to the plaintiff’s condition. The February 2026 data shows that claimants who followed all medical recommendations and maintained consistent treatment schedules received settlements averaging 35% higher than those with treatment interruptions.

Insurance Policy Limits and Available Assets

No matter how severe the injuries or clear the liability, settlement amounts are ultimately constrained by available insurance coverage and the defendant’s personal assets. The typical driver carries minimum liability coverage, which varies by state but often ranges from $25,000 to $50,000 per person.

When damages exceed policy limits, claimants face difficult decisions about pursuing the defendant’s personal assets (which may require litigation and may prove uncollectible) or accepting the policy limits and leaving significant damages uncompensated. The availability of underinsured motorist coverage on the plaintiff’s own policy can bridge this gap, providing additional compensation when the at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance.

Commercial vehicle accidents, by contrast, typically involve substantially higher policy limits—often $1,000,000 or more—creating the possibility of larger settlements that more adequately compensate severe injuries.

Geographic Location and Jurisdiction

Settlement values vary significantly based on geographic location. Urban jurisdictions in plaintiff-friendly states like California, New York, and Illinois tend to produce higher settlements than rural areas in more conservative states. This variation reflects differences in jury verdict trends, local economic conditions affecting wage calculations, regional differences in medical costs, and varying judicial attitudes toward personal injury claims.

The February 2026 data shows that similar injuries can result in settlement differences of 40-60% depending on jurisdiction. A moderate whiplash injury that settles for $35,000 in a major metropolitan area might settle for $20,000 in a rural jurisdiction.

Plaintiff Characteristics and Sympathy Factors

While it shouldn’t matter, the characteristics of the injured plaintiff do influence settlement negotiations. Insurance adjusters and defense attorneys evaluate the “likeability” and “credibility” of plaintiffs when calculating settlement offers, considering factors such as age (children and elderly victims often evoke greater sympathy), occupation (especially if the injury prevents continued work in a valued profession), demeanor and presentation (plaintiffs who appear genuine and sympathetic versus those who appear opportunistic), pre-existing conditions (which can reduce settlements), and social media presence (insurers routinely review social media for contradictory evidence).

Quality of Legal Representation

The impact of skilled legal representation on settlement outcomes cannot be overstated. The February 2026 data reveals that represented claimants receive settlements averaging 3.5 times higher than unrepresented claimants, even after accounting for attorney fees.

Experienced personal injury attorneys add value through thorough case investigation and evidence gathering, retention of medical experts and accident reconstructionists, skilled negotiation with insurance adjusters, accurate valuation of claims including future damages, and credible threat of litigation if settlement offers are inadequate.

Attorneys who specialize in personal injury law and who have a track record of taking cases to trial when necessary consistently obtain higher settlements than general practice attorneys or those known for quickly settling cases.

The Settlement Process: Timeline and Stages

Understanding the typical timeline for reaching a settlement helps claimants set realistic expectations and make informed decisions throughout the process.

Immediate Post-Accident Phase (Days 1-30)

The first month after an accident focuses on medical treatment and initial claim reporting. Victims should seek immediate medical attention, report the accident to their insurance company, gather evidence including photos and witness information, and avoid providing recorded statements to the at-fault driver’s insurance company without legal counsel.

Insurance companies often make quick settlement offers during this phase, particularly for minor injuries. These offers are almost always substantially below fair value, as the full extent of injuries and damages may not yet be apparent. Accepting early offers typically precludes any future claims related to the accident.

Treatment and Recovery Phase (Months 1-6+)

This phase involves ongoing medical treatment, therapy, and recovery. Settlement negotiations typically don’t begin in earnest until the victim reaches “maximum medical improvement” (MMI)—the point where their condition has stabilized and the full extent of permanent impairment, if any, is known.

Attempting to settle before reaching MMI is risky, as unforeseen complications or the need for additional treatment may arise after settlement, with no recourse for additional compensation.

Demand and Negotiation Phase (Months 2-12)

Once MMI is reached and all medical documentation is compiled, the plaintiff’s attorney typically sends a demand letter to the insurance company. This detailed document outlines liability, itemizes all damages, includes supporting medical records and bills, and demands a specific settlement amount (typically higher than the expected settlement to allow room for negotiation).

Insurance companies usually respond within 30-60 days with either a settlement offer or a denial. If an offer is made, it typically falls well below the demand, initiating a negotiation process that may involve multiple rounds of offers and counteroffers over several weeks or months.

Resolution Phase (Months 3-18)

Most car accident cases settle during the negotiation phase without requiring a lawsuit. According to the February 2026 data, approximately 95% of car accident claims settle before trial, though many settle after a lawsuit has been filed but before trial begins.

When parties reach agreement, the settlement is documented in a release agreement, which specifies the settlement amount, releases the defendant from further liability, and outlines payment terms. Settlement payments typically arrive within 30-45 days of agreement.

Cases that don’t settle proceed to litigation, which can extend the timeline by an additional 1-3 years depending on court schedules and case complexity.

Common Settlement Calculation Methods

Insurance adjusters and attorneys use various methods to calculate settlement values, and understanding these approaches provides insight into how settlement offers are generated.

The Multiplier Method

The most common approach multiplies medical expenses by a factor (typically 1.5 to 5) to account for pain and suffering, then adds lost wages and other economic damages. Minor injuries might use a multiplier of 1.5 to 2, moderate injuries might use 2 to 4, and severe injuries might use 4 to 5 or higher.

For example, a claimant with $10,000 in medical bills, $3,000 in lost wages, and moderate injuries might use a multiplier of 3: ($10,000 × 3) + $3,000 + $10,000 = $43,000 settlement demand.

The multiplier chosen depends on injury severity, clarity of liability, treatment duration, presence of permanent impairment, and the plaintiff’s age and life impact.

The Per Diem Method

This approach assigns a daily dollar value to the plaintiff’s pain and suffering, then multiplies by the number of days from accident to MMI. The daily rate is often based on the plaintiff’s daily wage, with the reasoning that suffering merits compensation equivalent to what they earn.

For example, if a plaintiff earns $200 per day and suffered for 180 days: $200 × 180 = $36,000 for pain and suffering, plus medical expenses and lost wages.

The Damages Formula Method

More sophisticated calculations, particularly in severe injury cases, use detailed economic analysis accounting for past medical expenses, future medical expenses (often requiring life care plans), past lost wages, future lost earning capacity, past pain and suffering, future pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium (for spouses of injured victims).

These calculations often require expert economists and medical professionals to project future costs and losses, resulting in detailed settlement demands supported by extensive documentation.

How the 2026 Data Compares to Historical Trends

The $30,416 average settlement figure from February 2026 represents a notable increase from previous years, reflecting several ongoing trends in personal injury settlements.

Compared to 2020 data showing average settlements around $24,000 to $26,000, the 2026 figure represents an increase of approximately 17-27%. This increase correlates with rising medical costs (healthcare inflation has outpaced general inflation), increased vehicle repair costs, higher wage levels affecting lost wage calculations, and growing jury verdicts that influence settlement negotiations.

However, settlement amounts haven’t increased uniformly across all injury categories. Minor injury settlements have remained relatively flat or increased only slightly, as insurance companies have become more aggressive in defending these claims. Meanwhile, moderate to severe injury settlements have increased more substantially, reflecting both higher medical costs and growing recognition of the long-term impacts of serious injuries.

The February 2026 data also reveals increasing polarization in settlement amounts—fewer cases settling in the mid-range with more clustering at the low end (quick settlements of minor claims) and high end (litigated severe injury cases).

State-by-State Variations in Settlement Amounts

Settlement values vary significantly across states due to differences in tort law, insurance requirements, economic conditions, and jury verdict trends.

High-Settlement States

States that consistently produce above-average settlements include California (average settlements 40-60% above national average), New York (average settlements 35-50% above national average), Illinois (average settlements 30-45% above national average), Florida (average settlements 25-40% above national average), and Texas (average settlements 20-35% above national average).

These states share characteristics such as large urban populations, higher costs of living and medical care, plaintiff-friendly tort laws, and strong personal injury bars with experienced attorneys.

Low-Settlement States

States with below-average settlements include Mississippi, Alabama, West Virginia, Montana, and Idaho, where settlements often run 20-40% below the national average.

These states typically feature rural populations, lower economic conditions and wage levels, more conservative juries, and tort reform laws limiting damages or making claims more difficult.

Impact of No-Fault Insurance Laws

States with no-fault insurance systems (including Florida, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Hawaii) operate under different rules that can significantly impact settlement amounts. In no-fault states, injured parties first seek compensation from their own insurance regardless of fault, and can only pursue claims against at-fault drivers when injuries exceed certain “thresholds” (typically defined by severity or medical costs).

This system tends to reduce the number of minor injury claims while concentrating settlements on more severe injuries that exceed thresholds.

Insurance Company Tactics That Affect Settlements

Understanding common insurance company strategies helps claimants navigate the settlement process more effectively and avoid tactics designed to minimize payouts.

Lowball Initial Offers

Insurance companies routinely make initial settlement offers far below fair value, hoping claimants will accept out of financial desperation or ignorance of their claim’s true worth. Studies show initial offers average only 30-50% of eventual settlement amounts.

Delay Tactics

Insurers may delay processing claims, requesting repetitive documentation, assigning claims to inexperienced adjusters, or simply being unresponsive to communications. These delays create financial pressure on claimants and may cause them to accept inadequate settlements.

Disputing Causation

A common defense strategy involves arguing that injuries weren’t caused by the accident but by pre-existing conditions, subsequent accidents, or other intervening causes. This requires strong medical documentation establishing the causal link.

Insurance companies increasingly use private investigators and social media monitoring to find evidence contradicting injury claims. A claimant who claims total disability but is photographed engaging in physical activities may see their settlement dramatically reduced or denied.

Exploiting Unrepresented Claimants

Insurance adjusters are trained negotiators dealing with car accident claims daily, while most claimants have never negotiated a settlement. This experience gap results in unrepresented claimants consistently accepting settlements far below what represented claimants receive for similar injuries.

When to Accept a Settlement Offer

Deciding whether to accept a settlement offer requires careful evaluation of multiple factors.

Signs of a Fair Settlement Offer

A settlement offer merits serious consideration when it covers all medical expenses (past and reasonably anticipated future), compensates for all lost wages and diminished earning capacity, provides reasonable compensation for pain and suffering (generally 2-4 times medical expenses for moderate injuries), accounts for any permanent impairment or disability, and falls within the range of settlements for comparable cases in your jurisdiction.

Red Flags Indicating an Inadequate Offer

Warning signs that an offer is insufficient include being made before reaching MMI, covering only a portion of medical bills, offering no compensation for pain and suffering, ignoring lost wages or future impacts, or being made with high-pressure tactics or artificial deadlines.

The Value of Legal Consultation

Even if you’re considering handling your claim independently, consulting with a personal injury attorney before accepting any settlement offer is wise. Most attorneys offer free initial consultations and can provide an objective assessment of whether an offer is fair. Given that represented claimants receive settlements averaging 3.5 times higher than unrepresented claimants, the attorney’s contingency fee (typically 33-40%) is often more than offset by the increased settlement amount.

Maximizing Your Settlement: Evidence-Based Strategies

The February 2026 data, combined with decades of personal injury practice, reveals clear strategies that consistently result in higher settlements.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Visit an emergency room or doctor immediately after the accident, even if injuries seem minor. Delayed medical treatment creates insurance company arguments that injuries weren’t serious or weren’t caused by the accident.

Follow All Medical Advice

Attend all scheduled appointments, complete prescribed therapy, take medications as directed, and follow activity restrictions. Treatment gaps or non-compliance give insurance companies ammunition to devalue claims.

Document Everything

Maintain detailed records including medical records and bills, photos of injuries and vehicle damage, lost wage documentation from employers, a daily pain journal, receipts for all accident-related expenses, and correspondence with insurance companies.

Avoid Early Settlement Offers

Resist pressure to settle quickly. The full extent of injuries and damages often isn’t apparent for weeks or months after an accident.

Be Cautious with Communications

Never provide recorded statements to the at-fault driver’s insurance company without attorney guidance, avoid discussing the accident on social media, don’t exaggerate injuries but also don’t minimize them, and direct all settlement communications through your attorney if represented.

Retain Experienced Legal Counsel

For any injury beyond truly minor soft tissue damage, hiring an experienced personal injury attorney dramatically increases settlement outcomes. The data consistently shows that attorney representation results in settlements 3-5 times higher than self-representation, even after fees.

The Role of Litigation in Settlement Values

While 95% of car accident cases settle without trial, the possibility of litigation significantly influences settlement negotiations.

Why Lawsuits Increase Settlement Values

Filing a lawsuit demonstrates serious intent and willingness to pursue full compensation, initiates discovery allowing access to defendant’s documents and depositions, creates litigation costs for the insurance company that make settlement more attractive, and approaches trial dates when juries might award amounts exceeding settlement offers.

Statistics show that cases where lawsuits are filed settle for amounts 25-40% higher on average than cases that never reach the litigation stage, even though most still settle before trial.

The Discovery Advantage

Litigation allows the plaintiff’s attorney to obtain evidence through interrogatories (written questions requiring sworn answers), requests for production of documents, depositions of the defendant and witnesses, and expert witness disclosures.

This process often uncovers evidence strengthening the plaintiff’s case and increasing settlement pressure on defendants.

Pre-Trial Settlement Conferences

Courts often require mediation or settlement conferences before trial, where a neutral third party facilitates negotiations. These formal settings frequently produce settlements as both parties face the uncertainty and expense of trial.

Future Trends Affecting Car Accident Settlements

Several emerging trends are likely to influence car accident settlement values in coming years.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)

Vehicles with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warnings, and other safety features are reducing accident frequency and severity, potentially decreasing the number of severe injury claims while increasing the average value of remaining claims.

Electric and Autonomous Vehicles

As electric and self-driving vehicles become more common, liability questions become more complex. When autonomous systems fail, liability may shift from drivers to manufacturers, potentially increasing settlement amounts due to corporate defendants with substantial resources.

Telematics and Vehicle Data

Modern vehicles record extensive data about driving behavior, speed, braking, and impacts. This objective evidence increasingly influences settlement negotiations by providing irrefutable facts about how accidents occurred.

Litigation Funding

Third-party litigation funding, where investors finance lawsuits in exchange for a portion of settlements, allows plaintiffs to better weather prolonged litigation, potentially increasing settlement amounts by reducing pressure to settle quickly.

Rising Medical Costs

Healthcare costs continue increasing faster than general inflation, driving up medical special damages and, consequently, total settlement amounts.

Understanding Attorney Fee Structures

Most personal injury attorneys work on contingency fee arrangements, where the attorney receives a percentage of the settlement rather than hourly fees.

Typical Contingency Fee Percentages

Standard contingency fees range from 33% to 40% of the settlement amount, with the percentage often depending on whether the case settles before or after lawsuit filing (33% for pre-litigation settlements, 40% for litigated cases).

Costs vs. Fees

In addition to attorney fees, cases incur costs for filing fees, expert witnesses, medical record retrieval, deposition transcripts, and investigation expenses. Some attorneys advance these costs and deduct them from the settlement, while others require clients to pay costs regardless of outcome.

Fee Negotiability

While many attorneys have standard fee structures, fees are negotiable, particularly in high-value cases. Discussing fee arrangements upfront ensures understanding and avoids surprises.

Value Calculation

Despite attorney fees and costs, represented claimants consistently net more than unrepresented claimants. If an unrepresented claimant settles for $20,000 and a represented claimant settles for $75,000 with a 33% fee plus $5,000 in costs, the represented claimant nets $45,250 versus $20,000—more than double.

Special Considerations for Different Accident Types

Settlement values and considerations vary based on accident type.

Rear-End Collision Settlements

Rear-end accidents typically involve clear liability (the rear driver is almost always at fault), common soft tissue injuries particularly whiplash, settlements ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 for typical cases, and defense arguments focusing on pre-existing conditions or exaggerated injuries rather than liability.

Intersection Accident Settlements

Intersection accidents often involve disputed liability (conflicting accounts of signal lights and right-of-way), more severe injuries due to side-impact or T-bone collisions, higher settlement values averaging $35,000 to $100,000, and significant investigation into traffic signals, witness statements, and accident reconstruction.

Multi-Vehicle Accident Settlements

Accidents involving three or more vehicles create complex liability scenarios, potential for multiple defendants and insurance policies, higher total settlement amounts due to cumulative coverage, and longer resolution timelines due to coordination among multiple parties.

Commercial Vehicle Accident Settlements

Accidents with trucks, buses, or other commercial vehicles typically involve substantially higher insurance coverage ($1,000,000+), potential for larger settlements, corporate defendants with greater resources, more aggressive defense and investigation, and additional liable parties (drivers, companies, maintenance providers).

Navigating Settlement Expectations

The February 2026 data providing an average car accident settlement of $30,416 offers valuable insight, but represents only the starting point for understanding potential settlement outcomes. Individual cases vary dramatically based on injury severity, liability clarity, available insurance coverage, geographic location, and quality of legal representation.

Injured accident victims should focus on maximizing their settlement through immediate and consistent medical care, thorough documentation of all damages, patience in avoiding premature settlement, and experienced legal representation for anything beyond minor injuries.

The settlement process can be lengthy and frustrating, but understanding the factors that influence outcomes empowers claimants to make informed decisions and achieve fair compensation for their injuries and losses. As medical costs continue rising and vehicle technology evolves, settlement amounts will continue changing, but the fundamental principles of thorough preparation, strong documentation, and skilled advocacy will remain the keys to successful outcomes.

Whether your case falls into the minor injury range or involves catastrophic damages, approaching the settlement process with realistic expectations, comprehensive evidence, and appropriate professional guidance provides the best opportunity for achieving a fair resolution that adequately compensates for the harm you’ve suffered.