A lawyer will tell you that there are two ways that you can be compensated after a personal injury accident. You can either settle out of court, or the courts can award you a settlement. It has been seen that 95% of personal injury cases settle out of court. There are many reasons for this. Some of these are mentioned below.
A closer look at personal injury settlements
Personal Injury Lawyer in Sault Ste. Marie will tell you that you can get a settlement either when the insurance adjuster offers you money or when the defendant offers you money. This can happen after you’ve filed a personal injury claim but before you’ve filed a formal lawsuit. It can also happen after the trial has begun but before a judgment has been made. Finally, it can happen when the jury is deliberating the final verdict.
You have to sign a full liability release once you and the defendant have agreed on a final settlement amount. You give up the right to seek future settlements from the defendant when you sign the release.
What role do insurance companies play?
You’ll more than likely get a settlement when insurance companies come into the picture. But remember that the insurance company wants to pay you as little settlement money as possible. The insurance adjuster tries to lowball you so that the insurance company profits. To safeguard your own interests, it is important that you hire the services of an injury lawyer.
Why most personal injury cases settle
There are many reasons why most personal injury cases settle. Some of these include:
● The defendant wants to save money. Going to court is expensive and time-consuming. The defendant may want to settle out of court to avoid all of the expenses and hassles that a trial often brings.
● Defendants don’t want public attention. Most court cases are publicized in the media. Most out-of-court settlements are not. A defendant may choose to settle out of court to avoid being in the media spotlight.
● Plaintiffs don’t want to spend years in court. Some court cases can take years to settle. The average out-of-court settlement may only take a few weeks.
● Plaintiffs are guaranteed a settlement by settling out-of-court. There is no guarantee of this if the plaintiff was to go to court.
Out-of-court settlements can be complex and tedious apart from requiring the skill of negotiations. You need to hire an injury lawyer,even if you do settle out of court. These settlements are often complex and require expert legal advice to win. That is why look online or get referrals when you want to get a fair amount as damages for your injuries.