Should You Settle Your Florida Personal Injury Case Out-Of-Court Or Go To Trial?
In Florida, personal injury victims have the option of settling their personal injury cases outside court or going to trial. Choosing which option to go with can be hard, but most personal injury cases settle outside court. If you work with a skilled personal injury attorney, settling your personal injury case out-of-court instead of in court can offer several benefits. For example, it usually takes a short amount of time to settle a personal injury case out-of-court. However, even though most personal injury cases settle before reaching a trial, some cases are better off going to trial.
So, how do you determine if you should take your case to trial or settle outside court? In order to determine whether to settle your personal injury case out-of-court or in court, you should speak to a qualified personal injury attorney.
Below, we talk more about when you should consider settling your personal injury case out-of-court and when you should consider going to trial.
When Should You Consider Settling Your Case Outside Court?
Generally, you should only consider settling your Florida personal injury case outside court if you and your attorney feel the at-fault party or the at-fault party’s insurance company has made you a fair settlement offer. Sometimes YOUR insurance party will “stand in the shoes” of the at-fault party. This is common with uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Unfortunately, people often accept low settlement offers because they need funds to cater to the expenses that quickly add up after an accident. If you have a strong case, accepting a low settlement offer would mean leaving money that is rightfully yours on the table.
It is important for you to note that once you collect compensation from an at-fault party or their insurance company, you can never try to claim compensation against the at-fault party or their insurance company ever again.
When Should You Consider Taking Your Case to Trial?
Suppose the at-fault party’s insurance company gives you a low offer or refuses to negotiate in good faith, yet your attorney believes you have a strong case. In that case, your attorney will most likely advise you to take your personal injury case to court. An experienced personal injury attorney should never shy away from going to court if doing so will ensure their client receives the compensation they deserve. Indeed, if you go to trial, you might have to wait for a long time before you obtain compensation. Nevertheless, if your case goes to trial, you may end up receiving more compensation than you would have, had you settled your case outside court.
So, should you settle your Florida personal injury case out-of-court or go to trial? Simply put, whether to settle your case outside court or in court depends on the specifics of your case. However, typically, you should only consider settling your personal injury case outside court if you and your attorney can negotiate fair terms without going to court. On the other hand, it is best to take a personal injury case to court if you have a strong case, but the defendant refuses to pay you what you deserve.
Speak With a Coral Springs Personal Injury Attorney
If you need help with your Florida personal injury case, contact the Coral Springs personal injury lawyers at Lyons & Snyder P.A. We can help you negotiate a fair settlement outside court or take your case to trial. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Resource:
forbes.com/2008/10/08/hiring-legal-help-ent-law-cx_rb_1008bovarnickhire.html?sh=1df0686d8d9a
