Settlements are significantly faster than a personal injury trial. On average, an agreement will take three to six months to complete. On the other hand, a test takes twice as long to complete. Settlements are often faster, more efficient, less costly, and less stressful than going to court. While a settlement may be a more beneficial resolution for an Personal Injury Attorney on Folly Beach SC injury claim compared to going to trial, plaintiffs should be careful not to accept an offer that is too low. Sometimes, the defendant's lawyer files a settlement amount much lower than the actual value of the claim, hoping to convince the plaintiff with quick money to accept a low offer.
For both parties involved, the agreement translates into a better settlement and a better outcome of the trial, while dramatically reducing the time spent on the case. Settling is often the most popular option in civil cases, as between 80 and 92% of cases are handled outside the courtroom. As mentioned earlier, both parties have an incentive to settle a claim before going to trial to avoid the additional costs associated with litigation. Not only is it less expensive to settle, but it also provides a faster resolution to your personal injury claim.
The other party usually issues a check within 30 days for the amount of money you accept in an offer, giving you access to the necessary funds long before going through the trial process. One of the most important benefits of resolving a personal injury lawsuit is that it can result in a faster resolution of the case. Trials can take months or even years to complete, while agreements can be reached relatively quickly. If the plaintiff accepts the settlement, he agrees to withdraw the lawsuit in exchange for the agreed amount of money. In fact, most of the savings come when the parties reach an agreement long before the trial so that lawyers can avoid some of the expenses mentioned above.
Of course, you can sit down with your trial lawyer and decide that the best path forward is not to reach a settlement but to take your personal injury case to trial. After accepting a settlement, you can't ask for more money or renegotiate a different settlement if your injuries worsen or new injuries are detected. If you were involved in a car accident and are not sure if you need to reach a settlement or go to trial, contact an attorney with experience in Helping The Hurt. Understanding the value of your claim can help you be better prepared to decide if you want to settle your personal injury case or go to trial. Your injury lawyer may try to reach an agreement before presenting your accident case, the day before you go to trial, or the day of the trial. Both parties to a personal injury claim generally prefer to settle a case rather than take it to trial.
Settlements present a less stressful option when victims of negligence are already dealing with physical, emotional and financial stress following an injury. While it's ideal for many accident victims and other victims of negligence to reach an agreement before going to court, sometimes reaching a settlement isn't the right option. Still, as your injury attorney will explain, there are benefits and drawbacks to resolving your case and going to trial. While this benefits the defendant because you can't sue them for additional money after accepting a settlement, it also benefits you. When you or a loved one are injured in any type of accident, the attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys will sit down with you and discuss all your options, from settlement to trial, to help you receive the maximum amount of compensation you deserve.
For example, if a plaintiff is 20% at fault for the accident, then a good settlement offer from the defendant would amount to about 80% of the plaintiff's damages.