What if I don’t want to go to court over my accident?
Most people have only ever been in a courtroom during jury duty, so it’s understandable that many people are intimidated by the prospect of going to court for their injury case.
Most injury cases never make it to court. Even though car accident cases are the most common personal injury claim that people file, a majority settle out of court. That’s because once you agree go to court, both sides are putting the end result in the hands of a third party—either a jury or a trial judge. Either way, the result is no longer in the hands of the parties involved. A settlement might take a long time and more negotiating, but at least the parties involved have power over the outcome.
Another reason these cases don’t go to trial very often is because the attorneys, if skilled and experienced, involved on both sides know what the case is worth. Trial is generally only needed when both parties fail to come to an agreement, and that’s pretty rare in personal injury cases. However, it is important for an injured party to choose an attorney that has the skill, expertise and experience to take their case to trial.
Going to trial also makes a case much more expensive. Court fees, expert witnesses, time, and effort all cost money.
So if you aren’t going to court, why hire an attorney? One of the reasons personal injury cases settle most often is because experienced attorneys know how to properly evaluate the case to get its maximum value. They also know how to deal with the lienholders, Medicare, Medicaid, health insurance companies and healthcare providers who, more likely than not, may have a substantial interest in the case. The insurance companies have armies of lawyers on their side. It is best for the injured party to have a skilled and experienced lawyer fighting for them.
Robert Greening is the principal attorney at GreeningLaw, P.C. He has dedicated his 24 years of practice to the litigation of wrongful death and serious injury cases. If you have a question about a recall or injury, contact GreeningLaw, P.C. at 972-934-8900.