Workers' Compensation Settlement
Know What Your Case Is Worth
Before You Settle
Insurers have a formula. It is designed to pay you less than you deserve. David Cherry's proprietary Cherry Valuation System™ is Pennsylvania's premier method for independently determining the true value of a workers' compensation case — before any settlement is signed.
Do not sign a Compromise & Release agreement until you know what your case is actually worth. Once signed, it is final and irrevocable under Pennsylvania law after 20 days.
Proprietary Process
The Cherry Valuation System™
Developed by David R. Cherry over more than three decades of Pennsylvania workers' compensation practice, The Cherry Valuation System™ is a structured, multi-factor analytical process for determining the true settlement value of a workers' compensation claim.
Unlike a rough estimate or a rule-of-thumb multiplier, The Cherry Valuation System™ examines every variable that affects case value — medical, economic, vocational, and legal — and produces a documented, defensible settlement range before negotiations begin.
It is widely recognized among Pennsylvania workers' compensation practitioners as the premier method for case valuation. Referral attorneys send their clients to David specifically because of it.
David R. Cherry
30+ Years · PA Workers' Comp
Why Insurers Want You to Settle Fast
Workers' compensation insurers are businesses. Their goal is to close claims at the lowest possible cost. Here is what they count on you not knowing.
You Don't Know Your Future Medical Costs
Insurers project your lifetime medical expenses internally. They offer you a lump sum that falls short of that projection. Without your own analysis, you have no way to know the gap.
They Undervalue Wage Loss
Lost wages are calculated on your pre-injury average weekly wage — but future earning capacity loss, career impact, and vocational limitations are rarely factored into early offers.
Time Pressure Is a Tactic
Offers that expire, adjusters who call repeatedly, and suggestions that your claim may be challenged — these are negotiating tactics, not facts. Pressure to settle quickly almost always means the insurer is worried.
What Goes Into a True Case Valuation
The Cherry Valuation System™ examines eight core factors that determine what a Pennsylvania workers' compensation case is actually worth.
Nature & Severity of Injury
The type of injury, body part affected, and whether it is temporary or permanent directly drives benefit calculations and settlement multipliers.
Wage Loss & Earning Capacity
Current lost wages are only part of the picture. Future earning capacity — what you can no longer earn because of your injury — is often the largest component of true case value.
Employer & Insurer Conduct
Delays, denials, and bad-faith tactics by the insurer can affect the value of your claim and your leverage at the settlement table.
Medical Evidence & Expert Support
The strength and completeness of your medical record — including independent medical opinions — determines how defensible your claim is and what a judge would award at hearing.
Duration of Benefits Remaining
How long you are likely to remain eligible for ongoing benefits is a critical variable. Settling too early forfeits years of future payments.
Litigation Risk & Hearing Outcome
The probability of success at a Workers' Compensation Appeal Board hearing — and the likely award — sets the floor for any reasonable settlement.
Medicare Set-Aside Obligations
For injured workers who are Medicare-eligible or likely to become so, federal law requires a Medicare Set-Aside allocation that reduces the net settlement value if not properly structured.
Third-Party Liability
If a negligent third party — a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or property owner — contributed to your injury, a separate civil claim may dramatically increase total recovery.
How The Cherry Valuation System™ Works
A six-step process that transforms your claim file into a documented, defensible settlement position.
Step 01
Complete Case Intake
David reviews your entire claim file — medical records, wage history, employer correspondence, insurer communications, and any prior hearing decisions.
Step 02
Injury & Disability Classification
Using Pennsylvania's specific loss schedule and disability classification framework, David categorizes your injury and maps it to the applicable benefit tiers.
Step 03
Economic Loss Projection
A full projection of past and future wage loss, medical costs, and vocational impact is calculated — not estimated. This is the number insurers hope you never see.
Step 04
Litigation Risk Assessment
David evaluates the strength of your medical evidence, the insurer's litigation posture, and the likely outcome at hearing to establish your negotiating floor.
Step 05
Settlement Range Determination
The Cherry Valuation System™ produces a documented settlement range — a minimum acceptable figure and a target figure — before any negotiation begins.
Step 06
Negotiation & Resolution
Armed with a precise valuation, David negotiates from a position of documented strength. Insurers know when an attorney has done the math.
Why Injured Workers Choose David Cherry
30+ Years of PA Workers' Comp Experience
David has handled Pennsylvania workers' compensation claims for more than three decades. He knows how insurers think, how adjusters are trained, and what judges award.
The Premier Valuation Method in Pennsylvania
The Cherry Valuation System™ is recognized by referral attorneys across the state as the most rigorous and reliable method for determining workers' comp settlement value.
No Fee Unless We Win
You pay nothing unless David recovers compensation for you. The fee is a percentage of what is recovered — so David's interests are aligned with yours.
Referral Attorneys Trust David
When other attorneys have a workers' compensation case that requires a valuation expert, they refer their clients to David. That trust is earned, not marketed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions injured workers ask most before settling their claim.
Do Not Settle Without a Valuation
A free consultation with David Cherry costs you nothing. Signing a Compromise & Release without knowing your case value could cost you everything. Call today or request your valuation online.
No fee unless we win. Serving Media, Philadelphia, and Haddonfield. Confidential consultation.
What Defense Attorneys Say
Demand Letters That Get Results
The following are unsolicited remarks from opposing defense counsel, insurance adjusters, claimants' attorneys, and clients regarding Cherry Injury Law demand letters and case presentations.
Testimonials from defense counsel will appear here.
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