Helping you choose the right path for your future.

Reaching the final stage of your workers’ compensation case is a major milestone. It can also bring up the hardest questions: How much is my case worth? Should I take a lump sum? What happens to my medical care?

At Ryan D. Kayrell, PC, I believe a settlement isn’t just a number. It’s a decision about your future. My job is to give you the clarity you need to choose with confidence. While “settlement mills” may rush to close your case for a quick fee, I take the time to make sure the offer on the table reflects the real, long-term value of your claim.

In California, there are generally two ways to resolve a workers’ compensation case. Neither is “better” in the abstract. The right choice depends on your health and your goals.

The key feature of a Stips is that it keeps your medical treatment open through workers' compensation.

How it works: You and the insurance company agree on your permanent disability percentage.

The benefit: You receive bi-weekly payments, and your right to medical treatment for the injury stays open for life.

A C&R is a complete buyout of your case.

How it works: The insurance company pays a single lump sum to close your case forever.
The benefit: You get immediate access to your funds, but you take responsibility for future medical care. For many people, this provides a clean break and more control over what happens next.

One common myth is that settlement value is a simple, one-size-fits-all number. In reality, a fair settlement is based on considering two primary factors:

• Your Permanent Disability (PD) rating: The level of impairment documented by a medical evaluator.
  
• Future medical care: Often the biggest piece. We estimate what the insurance company would likely have to pay for medications, procedures, therapy, and other treatment over time.
   

When it’s time to negotiate, the details in your medical reports matter. If your attorney hasn’t personally read every page of your QME or AME report, it’s easy to miss small details that can increase the value of your claim.

When you hire me, you get me. I personally handle every negotiation and every Mandatory Settlement Conference (MSC). I don’t hand your case off to a junior representative. I know your name, your injury, and what it takes to protect your interests against the insurance company’s playbook.

For more information, check out these articles in our Updates sections:

Compromise and Release vs. Stipulations: A Detailed Comparison

What to Expect at Your Mandatory Settlement Conference (MSC)