Have you been injured in an accident that was the fault of another party? You may be wondering how to get fair compensation, and whether it’s better to settle out of court. This is what your personal injury lawyer wants you to know.
Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer: When Should You Settle Out of Court?
Taking your case to court can not only be time-consuming and stressful, but it can get expensive too. When you’re already dealing with the expenses from things like medical care or lost wages because of your injury, adding court costs on top of that isn’t ideal. Most people aim to settle out of court, which means coming to an agreement with the parties involved in a dispute without any further litigation, for this exact reason. If you and the other parties involved can work things out via face-to-face negotiation, mediation, or arbitration, then it’s worth settling out of court.
What Are the Benefits of Settling Out of Court?
Save Time
One of the biggest downsides of having to take a case to court is that it can be incredibly time-consuming. This might not be time that you’re willing to give up, especially as it can also cause a lot of stress. If you and the other parties involved in your claim can come to an agreement that you are all happy with outside of court, then you’ll likely save a significant amount of time.
Trials Can Be Uncertain
In some situations, going to trial will be the best course of action. This is generally if you and the other parties involved in a claim can’t manage to come to a decision on your own. But you should know that even if you are certain that the other party is at fault, a judge or jury may not agree. If you decide to settle out of court, then you only need to settle for what you feel is acceptable. However, if you really can’t manage to find a compromise, then you may have no choice but to go to court.
More Privacy
The talks that you have when you’re trying to settle your claim will be entirely confidential. If you want to make sure that your privacy is maintained and that you don’t have to deal with the prying eyes of the public, then it’s best to try and settle out of court. These talks are “without prejudice,” which means that no one can take anything you said during the talks and use that against you if the complaint goes on. The same is true for any offers that you make. You can also agree that the conditions you set as part of your settlement are kept confidential.
Should You Hire a Lawyer?
Your Lawyer Has Legal Expertise When you work with a Kansas City personal injury lawyer, you’ll know that you and your case are in good hands. Lawyers have years of training and experience, so they know exactly how to help. It’s a good idea to have a lawyer on your side even when you are trying to settle out of court. Your lawyer can help you have a clearer understanding of what to expect, and many lawyers are trained in things like mediation.
Your Lawyer Can Help Gather Evidence
Even when settling a claim out of court, you’re going to want to have evidence to support your case. And, if you do end up needing to take your case in front of a judge or jury, this evidence is going to be even more helpful. Your lawyer will know exactly what types of evidence will be most beneficial, and they’ll help you gather all this evidence properly too. This includes things like medical notes and bills, pay stubs documenting wages you’ve missed because of an injury, and witness testimony.
Your Lawyer Will Offer You Guidance
Whether you’re trying to come to a compromise on your own with the other party involved in your accident or you need to take your claim in front of a judge, having legal guidance will only benefit you. Since you don’t have the same kind of training that a lawyer does, you could make mistakes that could cost you a fair settlement. Your lawyer will be able to offer you all the advice you need to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve for your accident. They’ll also provide you with the compassion and understanding you need during this time. If you have recently been injured because of someone else’s negligence or actions, settling out of court
could be the best course of action for you. Regardless of whether you are able to come to an agreement or you end up needing to go to court, having a lawyer on your side will greatly benefit you.
