Save the actual proposal
Keep the complete written offer, attachments, email, and date received. A phone summary may omit conditions. If the proposal changes, preserve each version and identify which is current. Do not sign a document simply because the amount matches a previous conversation.
Create a review sheet with four headings: payment, deductions, rights affected, and outstanding questions. This makes it easier to separate an accounting issue from a legal issue.
Calculate a provisional net amount
List possible fees, case costs, reimbursements, and unpaid obligations without assuming they are all final. The State Bar of California’s fee guide illustrates why the written agreement and calculation order matter. Ask for a distribution worksheet using your actual terms.
An invented comparison: offer A is $25,000 with unclear deductions; offer B is $24,000 with a complete itemization. You cannot conclude which leaves more money available until the deductions and obligations are understood. You also cannot evaluate the agreement solely on that net figure.
Identify what the proposal closes
Ask which people, claims, dates, and future issues the release covers. Are property and injury issues treated separately? Does the proposal affect ongoing care or an existing benefit? California’s workers’ compensation settlement guide provides a specific example of why future medical responsibility matters, but other claims use different rules and documents.
Write unfamiliar terms as questions rather than assigning your own legal interpretation. A broader release can matter even when its wording looks routine.
Resolve time pressure with clear advice
Record any stated expiration date and who communicated it. Distinguish that date from a court or statutory deadline. If you need advice, contact a qualified professional promptly and provide the actual documents.
Avoid treating an online “average settlement” as the deciding factor. Your evidence, legal position, remaining uncertainty, and personal circumstances require individual review. This checklist helps prepare that review; it cannot tell you whether to accept, reject, or counter a particular offer. Keep the final advice and any revised terms with the proposal so the decision is based on the same version everyone reviewed.