Good Evening -

What you are looking at is not a judgment - it's a mediator's recommendation to settle the case. Whoever performed the mediation thought, for whatever reason, that is what the case was worth.

I think it's improbable that the other side is asking for punitive damages - those are just not available for an accident. They are probably asking for pain & suffering - and the rule of thumb on that is one to three times actual damages. So, if someone incurred $5,000 in medical bills, a jury usually would award $10,000 to $20,000. There are exceptions to the general rule, of course.

By the way, people often ask for $250,000 - almost every lawsuit I see asks for that amount! It rarely happens.

The problem is, of course, it's expensive to try a case - my guess is that your attorney wants at least $5000 for that, and probably more, for that.

The upshot is this - if there are no punitive damages, you could declare bankruptcy if there is a judgment against you and you don't have anything to pay it with. If you do, I highly recommend seeing a bankruptcy attorney NOW - he or she can recommend asset protection strategies you can take to protect what you do have before there is a judgment.

Hello Again -

Thanks for accepting my answer!

I know procedurally it's possible, but you should talk to a bankruptcy attorney and find out what the best timing is for your particular situation before you file.