Settling An Auto Accident Case

Many auto accident cases resolve before they go to trial. This happens when a settlement is offered or suggested by one of the parties and accepted by the other. In exchange, the plaintiff stops the case. A settlement might be agreed to before the case has been filed, before a trial date is set, or even after the trial has started. When the settlement is accepted, the case is considered completed and the issue may not be revisited in a later trial.

Defendants offer or accept settlements for all kinds of reasons. A defendant might believe that the settlement offer is less than the amount that will be awarded by a jury if the case goes to trial.  Some defendants settle because they don't want to bother with a trial. They may choose to accept a settlement offer to avoid bad publicity. In some cases, the defendant will agree to pay a settlement because they want to give the plaintiff what they are due.

If you've been offered a settlement by the insurance company, you may feel as if you do not need an attorney. Nothing could be further from the truth. A settlement is like a trial in many ways and involves the same legal issues. Going into a settlement negotiation, or accepting a settlement offer, without first speaking with an attorney is like going into court without one. Just click here to learn more about personal injury settlements.

When a settlement is agreed to, the case is closed. If you've agreed to accept a settlement, it must be sufficient to meet your needs. If it isn't, you won't be able to seek additional damages in the future, even if your expenses are the result of the same accident. If it isn't enough, you will have to pay those expenses on your own. An attorney will be in a better position to tell whether the amount offered is going to be sufficient for your needs and whether it is fair.

Having an attorney increases your odds of getting a larger settlement offer from the defendant. If the settlement you were offered is insufficient, your attorney will be in a better position to negotiate a larger sum. You are also more likely to be offered a settlement at all than a person without an attorney.

If the person responsible for your auto accident has offered to settle with you out of court, you should speak with an attorney before you accept. Consulting with an attorney does not obligate you to hire them to represent you, though you can contract with one after consulting with them. If you do hire them, they will be able to handle the case for you and help get you the money you deserve. Please go right here to get the best lawyers!

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