When a person makes a car injury claim, two things come up to mind: settle or go to court?
Many people do not know that settling can be the more viable option. Settling is even a good choice even if the possibility of going to court has yet to surface. If you are in Maryland and want to understand more about car injury claims, we recommend that you read this post – What Is baltimore car accident lawyer? – Maryland Accident (Guide to baltimore car accident lawyer).
Settling can be a good option, but what if the insurance company ignores you? Or the terms presented to you might be considered too small? How about when you strongly feel that you are a victim of injustice? Going to court might be the wisest option you can have.
In this article, we weigh in the advantages of both Settling and Going to court.
Settlement
As mentioned above, settlement can be the most viable option there is. If you find that the company that you are suing presents you with fair and appropriate solutions, settling may not be such a bad idea.
Here are some advantages of settling:
You can get compensation much faster
You’ll be able to get a quicker settlement because the terms between you and the company you are suing, are usually settled off the court. Therefore, you can avoid those long hearing schedules which could delay you much more in the long run.
Avoiding Expensive Attorney’s fees
Depending on your agreement with your attorney, you might have to incur expensive costs. These charges are sometimes too expensive to the point that the whole settlement and compensation you make out of this lawsuit can be just for the payment fees.
Make it a point to your lawyer to talk about his fees and always consider some lawyers who do pro bono services that may greatly be beneficial for you.
Cost Efficient
Hearing schedules are what you need to endure should you decide to go to court. When you do go to court, hearings are not given automatically, instead they are scheduled. The wait for your time in court may reach a few weeks, months and even worse, some cases even take years.
Avoiding an Unpredictable Decision From the Jury
Panel members significantly affect the outcome of your trial. If you don’t understand how a jury makes its decisions, then settle to avoid any unpredictability when it comes to your trial.
Even if the trial or hearing has started, you can reach the company you are suing to agree on settling. It is always safe to say to try and talk at any point in the case to come to an agreement.
The central question that we should ask ourselves is, how much risk is there in losing the trial? If you are confident and feel good about the outcome of the case, ask for guidance from a good lawyer and proceed to court.
Going to Court
Proceeding to a hearing should be the last thing you consider. If all conditions do point towards it, then you must be prepared with the work that comes with it.
Here are some advantages of going to court:
Receiving full compensation
If a settlement is out of the question or if you feel that the compensation is unfair, then going to court can help you in claiming what is rightly yours. A court decision can legally enforce your rights for you, making the company liable for paying for the damages wrongfully done to you.
Gratification
Sometimes, companies can also refuse a re-negotiation. Compelling the defendant through the court’s powers can reverse that. If you do win in a court, gratification can sometimes be even a much greater thing than the compensation itself.
People at times feel that they have been wronged too much and are victims of injustice that they feel the whole process of going to court is the only way to alleviate their feelings. Compensation, as they say, can be the “icing on top.”
Takeaway
Settlement and going to court is a coin toss. Either you win the case, or you lose it. To avoid this situation, you have to carefully weigh your arguments and claims to make sure that no facts can disprove it. Knowing the advantages and the risks that come with it is hugely beneficial because it can make or break you when the time finally comes.
About the Author: Mr. Bruce Robinson
Mr. Bruce Robinson leads the firm of Robinson and Associates, which he opened over 25 years ago. Following his years of litigation in personal injury, murder, and automobile accidents, he also focuses on serving individuals who have been charged with alcohol-related offenses such as DWI and DUI’s. His firm additionally specializes in representation for personal injury, primarily for serious motor vehicle accident cases.
Mr. Robinson has been practicing law in the state of Maryland for nearly 30 years and received his J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law in Baltimore, Maryland. Robinson and Associates now have several locations throughout Maryland Virginia.
