After you’ve been injured in an accident, you might be entitled to money. Insurance is the primary source of compensation after an accident. However, insurance companies will do whatever they can to prevent you from getting the money you deserve. They may deny your claim in bad faith or offer you an insulting lowball offer.
If the insurance company won’t budge and offer a fair settlement, you might consider filing a lawsuit. A lawsuit takes your private dispute and puts it in the hands of your local court. Just because you file a lawsuit doesn’t mean that you’ll have to go to court. Your case will only be litigated in front of a judge (and/or jury) if you can’t settle the matter privately beforehand. Find out why most cases settle out of court. For more assistance, call a personal injury attorney at Citywide Law Group today.
Most Personal Injury Cases Settle Privately
It’s estimated that 95 percent of all personal injury cases are settled outside of the courtroom. This shouldn’t be a surprise. Judges and courts encourage parties to exhaust all options and negotiations before taking their dispute to court. In California, you may even be required to attempt to mediate your lawsuit before a judge will schedule a trial date.
Why Are So Many Lawsuits Settled Outside of Court?
Lawsuits can be expensive to litigate. There are a lot of different costs involved. These might include:
- Court costs and filing fees
- Attorney fees
- Administrative fees, including transcription, messengers, service and delivery, and copying
- Expert witness fees
- Private investigator fees, and more.
As these expenses add up, it can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars to litigate a complex personal injury lawsuit in a city like Los Angeles. The longer a case goes on, the more expensive it gets.
Many cases settle because they’re so expensive to navigate.
Settlements Are Still a Win For Injured Accident Victims
You reserve the right to deny settlement offers. You’re in the driver’s seat. You don’t have to accept an offer if you think it’s unfair or less than you deserve. However, keep in mind that there’s no guarantee that you’ll win if your case goes to trial.
If your personal injury case settles, you should consider that to be a win. A settlement guarantees that you will receive compensation for your injuries.
Settlements Get You Cash In Hand Faster Than a Trial
If you want to take your case to trial, our attorneys will stand by your decision. We’ll paint a picture for the jury and work hard to compel them to issue a verdict in your favor.
However, it’s important to know this going to court will prevent you from getting money now. Trials take time. Verdicts can be appealed. It could be months, or even years, before you see the compensation you deserve. This could put you in a difficult situation if you have medical bills and lost wages today.
Hire an Attorney You Trust
When you’ve been injured, money can be incredibly important as you fight to get back on your feet. You shouldn’t trust just any attorney with your personal injury case. Some lawyers are only interested in cases that will settle quickly and offer a big payout. They’re not interested in your wellbeing or putting in the work to get you every penny you need.
That’s not what you deserve after what you’ve been through. You deserve an attorney who can relate to your situation and fight hard to win your case. You deserve an attorney who has a track record of success in the courtroom and isn’t afraid to litigate your case in front of a judge. You can trust that this is precisely what you’ll get when you trust Citywide Law Group to handle your personal injury case.
For more information, call our law firm at (424) 248-2700 or visit our contact us page to send us an email.
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