While most cases settle well before a jury verdict, there are some cases that cannot settle for a variety of reasons. One of the top reasons is the permanency of a medical condition. Insurance companies are set up to consider backward looking damages such as incurred medical bills, lost wages and property loss. However, many times, injured victims have future damages that are – by their nature – speculative. These often require the use of economic and medical experts to render opinions as to the need for ongoing treatment and care. Moreover, especially with more risky surgical procedures, a personal injury victim may wish to put off certain procedures until a later determination is made about the necessity. This can make it rather difficult to weave this into a settlement – and can mean that the jury may ultimately need to come to it’s own conclusion as to whether the injured party should be compensated for this. In short – the more permanent a condition, the harder it is to settle a personal injury case. Remember that, once you settle a case, you cannot reopen the personal injury claim. Therefore, it’s vital that you think well into the future before hastily accepting an offer to settle a personal injury matter.