If you were harmed by the negligence of another person, your long-term health may rely on receiving fair compensation in a lawsuit. In filing this lawsuit, though, you are likely to have questions. Will you need to take additional time away from work and from your medical care to go to court? Will going to court really help you get the support you need? How can you be sure that you receive a fair amount?
How many personal injury cases go to court?
The fact is that most personal injury cases do not see trial. In fact, more than 95% of personal injury lawsuits settle out of court. This means that in a personal injury lawsuit, there is a high likelihood that you and the other person will reach an agreement without a judge or jury’s intervention.
There are many reasons for this. For many, negotiating a settlement saves them the time and costs of going to court or preserves their privacy during a difficult time. For others, the guaranteed support provided by a settlement is preferable to fighting in court with no guarantee of success. The courts also often encourage alternate dispute resolution options like mediation and arbitration.
Your case may not go to court, but you may still need to defend your interests.
While most personal injury cases settle out of court, you may not immediately receive a fair offer. In many cases, you and your attorney may need to negotiate with the other party to receive a fair amount in the settlement. This makes it especially important to have a strong legal strategy even if you never go to trial.
