When you’re injured in an accident and decide to hire an Injury Lawyer in Woodbridge, they will first determine whether you have a case. This means they will investigate the facts surrounding your accident and determine if you have a legal right to compensation for your injuries. If their investigation determines that you have a case, then your attorney will discuss with you what damages they think you may be entitled to receive and how much time it might take to get them. Following are some reasons why people may choose to settle than go to a trial.
Fear of losing at trial.
While juries may seem unpredictable in movies, it’s important to remember that they are actually made up of real people who can be swayed by any number of factors — including money. So if you’re unsure about how your case would fare in front of a jury, it’s not a bad idea to settle out of court.
Trials take time, and sometimes they’re unpredictable — especially when there’s no clear winner or loser. Even if you win, you may have gone through months or even years of litigation only to end up with less than what you initially thought was fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
The desire to put an end to the matter.
Going through the legal process can be emotionally draining and stressful for many people. While some people thrive on such challenges, others simply want their cases resolved as quickly as possible so they can get back to everyday life or move on with their lives. This is especially true if they have been through a traumatic experience like a car accident or slip-and-fall accident that left them injured and unable to work for months or years. Settling out of court means no more hospital visits, doctor’s appointments or therapy sessions — just closure on their case so they can move forward with their lives.
Avoid Public Exposure
Many people don’t want their personal lives exposed in the media. A jury trial can be very stressful for both sides. It can result in extensive media coverage, including information about your personal life that you might rather keep private. Some people may not want their medical records made public. Medical records contain sensitive information that may be embarrassing or damaging if released to the public.
If it will take a long time for your case to settle or if there are significant issues with proving liability, your lawyer may recommend that you accept a settlement offer from the other party’s insurance company. This can be especially true if there’s been no admission of liability by the other side, which is often the case in rear-end and parking lot accidents where the fault isn’t clear-cut.
