What Are the Chances Your Car Accident Case Settles?
When you think of a case being closed, most envision a scene of a courtroom with the judge or jury handing down a long-awaited verdict. While this definitely happens following many criminal cases, the truth is that a lot of personal injury lawsuits will reach a settlement before ever going to trial.
Statistics show that 95 percent of personal injury lawsuits are settled before trial. Since a majority of personal injury cases stem from car accidents, it is safe to apply that percentage to the number of car accident cases being settled as well.
And while it might seem cool to have your lawsuit go to trial, settling before the trial can be the most advantageous outcome in most situations. In the end, your car accident lawyer will know what is best for your situation.
Reasons Car Accident Cases Tend to Settle
At the end of the day, there are a handful of reasons why car accident lawsuits usually do not reach trial. And again, avoiding trial is not a bad thing. For starters, the costs associated with litigation is expensive, especially if the case goes to trial. This will definitely increase the time and effort that needs to be put in to develop a strong case and will end up costing a lot more by trial’s end. Neither side wants to deal with more expenses, making a settlement before trial the best route.
Another big reason why car accident cases tend to settle before trial is the fact that the person being sued is rarely the one who pays out any judgment if the plaintiff wins. It is the defendant’s insurance company that pays. And of course, insurance companies aim to resolve a car accident claims as quickly as possible and without overpaying claimants.
In addition, a trial is simply unpredictable. No matter how strong either side of the case may be, you could end up facing an unexpected result. Attorneys will look to settle in order to avoid the unexpected and control the risk associated with your case. It would be unfortunate to go to trial only to receive less or even nothing at all.
Lastly, a car accident settlement means getting a check quicker than if you went to trial. Trials can take time and during that span medical costs, lost wages and litigation expenses may continue piling up, further increasing your debt. A settlement will allow you to get your compensation much quicker than a trial so you can go back to living your life.
Contact Experienced Pittsburgh Car Accident Attorneys Today
How your car accident case comes to a close will greatly depend on your attorney. If you are looking to receive the most compensation possible without ending up in a trial, the attorneys at Berger & Lagnese, LLC will help you get there.
With years of experience handling car accident cases in Pennsylvania, they know what it takes to get you the compensation you deserve for your damages. Contact them today to begin discussing your case today.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.