When Should I Settle a Personal Injury Case?
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Sometimes, the best option for a personal injury case is to go to trial. You want the judge or, in rare cases, a full jury to see what you’ve gone through and provide you with the compensation the guilty party is simply refusing to give you through a settlement. However, there are some instances when settling is the best option. Here are a few times when settling your personal injury case is the best option.
The Settlement is Fair
While there are times when the other party offers a very paltry sum as a settlement amount, but more often than not, what’s offered is fair. Many people don’t want to invest the time or money in a trial. It’s cheaper to simply offer you a settlement. When you’re suing a business or government agency for an injury, negative publicity is also a factor. Companies and agencies don’t want a public trial that highlights their negligence or fault, so they will offer a fair settlement value so they can avoid this.
You Don’t Want a Long Trial
Personal injury trials can go on for months, if not years. While you may be able to come out with more money at the end, you also have to invest a lot of time. Most people simply want to be able to pay their medical bills and other costs associated with the injury. If you don’t want to be tied up in a lengthy court battle and the settlement being offered covers your costs, it may be worth taking that settlement just to bring the case to a close.
You Aren’t Sure You Would Win
Sometimes, despite the fact that you know without a doubt that the other party was at fault, it can be difficult or impossible to prove. You may not have any witnesses or other evidence that absolutely, without any doubt, shows that the other party is to blame for the injury. In this case, taking an offered settlement is often the best move since going to trial could result in a loss.
Deciding if a settlement is fair or not isn’t easy. That’s why you need a professional attorney with experience in personal injury law on your side. The team at Held & Hines LLP can help you determine if a settlement is just, and, if it’s not, represent you in court. Contact us today to discuss your case.
Posted in: Personal Injury, Uncategorized
