What are the Benefits of Settling a Claim as Opposed to Going to Court?

Posted on behalf of TSR Injury Law
on March 4, 2022 in Personal Injury

Many personal injury victims fear calling a lawyer because they think they will have to go to court to recover compensation for their damages. While there are cases that make it to court, most are resolved through a settlement and a trial is not necessary.

There are many advantages to settling a case as opposed to going to court. The experienced attorneys from TSR Injury Law discuss those advantages below.

If you have questions about what to do after suffering a personal injury caused by another’s negligence, we are here to help. We have negotiated countless settlements on behalf of our clients.

We understand injury victims are often uncertain about calling a lawyer, but you can speak with one of our licensed attorneys for free and with no obligation to hire our firm. If we validate your claim and you decide to work with us, there are no upfront fees and no costs while we work to help you resolve your claim.

TSR Injury Law. No Upfront Fees. Proven Results. Call (612) TSR-TIME.

What is a Personal Injury Settlement?

A settlement is essentially a legally binding contract between the two parties involved in an injury claim. The liable party agrees to provide compensation to the injury victim in exchange for the injury victim agreeing to not bring future claims over the same injury.

Settlements are usually reached after negotiation between the two parties, often the attorney for the victim and the liable insurance company. The negotiation process starts with the victim’s attorney sending a demand letter to the insurance company. In response, the insurance company can make a counteroffer and there may be multiple counteroffers between both parties before an agreement is reached.

While most settlement agreements are reached before a lawsuit is filed, there are times when the insurance company does not make reasonable efforts to settle the dispute. When this happens, you need an attorney on your side who is willing to file a lawsuit to pursue the compensation you need. That is why it is important to find a Bloomington personal injury attorney with courtroom experience who is prepared to take the case to court.

It is important to note that you may still be able to reach a settlement agreement with the insurance company, even if you have filed a lawsuit.

Advantages of Agreeing to a Settlement

These are some of the benefits of settling an injury claim as opposed to taking it to court:

Control of the Process

One of the biggest advantages of settling an injury claim is you and your attorney are in control of negotiations. If you do not like an offer from the insurance company, you can reject it and make a counteroffer. You can go back and forth with the insurance company until you reach an agreement.

Trials can be unpredictable. What if the judge excludes evidence? What if a witness’s testimony sounds unreliable?

Settling is Faster

Another advantage to settling is it takes less time to reach a settlement than to finish a trial.

A trial adds six months to a year or more to reach a conclusion. Even if you get a favorable result, the insurance company might appeal. That can drag the process out even longer.

When you settle, there is no possibility of an appeal. Signing a settlement offer resolves the situation and a check is received within weeks.

Lower Costs

Settling a case also costs less than a trial. When you go to court, there are various court costs and expenses that add thousands of dollars to the case. The goal is to get more compensation, so the added costs are a reward risk situation. No one wants to spend $10,000.00 more in costs to “win” another $10,000.00.

Going to court is costly for the insurance company as well, which is why it is often in the best interest of the insurance company to agree to a settlement. However, insurance companies may stick to a lowball offer if the victim’s attorney rarely or never takes cases to court. The insurance company knows there is little to no risk of the outcome of the case being put in the hands of a jury if the victim’s attorney never goes to trial. The greatest threat is eliminated, and the insurance company acts accordingly.

That is why it is important to have an attorney with trial experience on your side. Our attorneys have decades of experience negotiating settlement claims as well as building strong cases to present in court.

Less Stress for Victims

Trials are much more stressful for injury victims than the settlement process. During the settlement process, victims are mostly free to focus on their medical treatment. Their attorney can keep them informed throughout the process and deal with all the things involved in negotiating and trying to reach a settlement. Trials require giving testimony in front of a jury, insurance lawyers cross examinations, adverse doctor exams and the unknown of what 12 jurors will think about the case.

Ensuring You Recover Compensation

While it may be possible to recover more compensation from a trial compared to a settlement, settling ensures you receive compensation. When you go to trial, you are leaving the case in the hands of a jury. They may award you more than you would have recovered in a settlement, but there is a chance you may not recover anything.

Privacy

Settlements are also private. Both parties can decide what should remain public and private, such as the terms of the settlement. Trials become part of public record. In other words, everything the two sides said to make the other look bad will be available for anyone to look up.

Contact TSR Injury Law for Legal Assistance

For more than two decades, our licensed attorneys have been helping injury victims recover the compensation they need. While many cases settle, we are always prepared to go to court, as our goal is recovering full compensation to help you move forward.

There are no upfront fees for our services, and an initial consultation does not obligate you to hire our firm. This meeting is a chance for us to lay out your potential legal options to help you decide what to do next.

Licensed attorneys. No upfront fees. Call TSR at (612) TSR-TIME.

Could Your Personal Injury Case Make it to Trial or be Settled Before?

Posted on behalf of TSR Injury Law
on December 16, 2021 in Personal Injury

This is one of the most common questions injury victims have when they meet with an attorney to discuss their claims. Injury victims often feel a lot of anxiety about the idea of having to go to court or testify in front of a jury.

What many injury victims do not know is that most cases are settled outside of the courtroom. If a case settles, then there is no need for a trial. Some cases do make it to court, but it is rare.

Below, learn more about why most personal injury cases are settled and never end up in court. We also discuss situations where a case may go to trial.

If you have legal questions after suffering a personal injury, the Minneapolis personal injury lawyers at TSR Injury Law are here to answer them. An initial consultation with a licensed attorney is free and there are no legal obligations.

Reasons Why Cases are Usually Settled

It is usually in the best interest of both parties to settle the case rather than going to trial. While the trial itself may only last a few days, there are numerous hurdles to clear before a trial can begin. That means trying to resolve a case with a jury trial is going to take much longer than settling the case.

Insurance companies routinely deny and try to underpay claims. However, if you are represented by a lawyer, you may have a much better chance of recovering the compensation you deserve. Settlement negotiations may take weeks or months, but attorneys are usually able to get the insurance company to make a reasonable offer. If your lawyer can get a fair offer from the insurance company, there is no reason to go to trial.

You Are Not Asking for a Large Amount of Compensation

The value of a case could also impact the chances of going to trial. For example, say you suffered a permanent injury with significant medical expenses and non-economic damages. The insurance company may make lowball offers hoping you will accept one. Settlement negotiations could drag on without an offer you or your attorney are willing to accept. This is a situation where you should seriously consider going to trial.

On the other hand, if it is clear to the insurer that your claim is valid, but you are not seeking an unusually large amount of damages, the insurance company is likely to settle. This is a much cheaper option for them than going to court.

You Have More Control Over Settlement Negotiations

One of the benefits of settlement negotiations is that you and your attorney are free to reject any offers. If you go to court, you must accept what the jury awards you. The downside of a jury verdict is that it carries no guarantee of winning. This means you could be awarded more than the insurance company offered, less, or nothing at all.

Settling is Usually Less Costly for Insurers

Insurance companies often prefer to settle because they could end up paying out a lot more compensation if the case goes to court. They also have no control over what a jury may decide to do.

How Long Could It Take to Reach a Settlement?

Each case is unique, but typically it takes 6-12 months to reach maximum medical improvement and be in a position to settle. You never want to settle and then discover more injuries. Some cases require immediate surgeries, and those situations can settle faster because the injury is known, fixed and understood by the parties.

Once a demand is sent, it may take about three to six months to negotiate a favorable settlement for a personal injury The insurance company needs to review the records, bills, expert reports, police investigations and all the other materials that go into a demand.

Reasons Cases Might go to Trial

Your case might go to trial if the insurance company does not make a settlement offer you are willing to accept. In some cases, they may deny the claim up front and offer no compensation. Filing a lawsuit may be the only way to get the insurance company to agree to negotiate a settlement.

It is important to note that filing a lawsuit does not always mean the insurance company will allow the case to go to trial. They may realize they do not have a good chance of a favorable outcome in a trial. Taking this step could get them to decide to make a better offer to the victim.

Insurers Are Confident in Their Case

Insurance companies usually have a lot of confidence in their case if they allow it to go to trial. They may feel confident that their evidence is strong enough to invalidate your claim when presented to a jury.

The Case Involves Significant Damages

The higher the value of a case, the more likely it is to go to trial. Insurance companies do not want to pay out compensation, particularly if it could be a large amount. Even if you have a strong case, the insurance company will look for some way to underpay your claim. They may stick to a lowball offer, even after your attorney files a lawsuit.

Insurers Are Playing Hardball

There are times when the insurance company does not have a strong case but decides to go to trial anyway. There is really no hard and fast way to know how an insurance company may respond. That is why it is vital to have an experienced attorney handling your claim. One factor insurance companies evaluate is who is your lawyer or law firm. Does the Firm have a reputation of folding or will they try a case? If they think your lawyer will fold because of past actions, they will never pay the full amount owed.

How Long Could a Trial Take?

It could take a year or longer to reach the point where your attorney makes a closing argument and the jury deliberates on your case. There are many steps that precede a jury trial, not to mention the time your attorney may spend negotiating before a lawsuit is filed.

Why You Need an Attorney Who is Prepared to go to Court

Insurance companies are always looking for reasons to deny or underpay claims. If you have no attorney representing you, particularly one with courtroom experience, a lowball settlement offer is more likely. If an insurance company believes there is little chance a case could go to court, there is less incentive for them to make a better offer.

Your goal when seeking compensation is to recover all the compensation you need to help you and your family move forward. If your lawyer is not prepared to go to court, that goal could be much more difficult to accomplish.

At TSR, we are often able to settle claims without the need to go to court. However, we are always prepared if the insurance company denies or undervalues a claim.

Need Legal Help After a Personal Injury? Call TSR

For more than 25 years, TSR Injury Law has been securing compensation for personal injury victims. We are prepared to manage the legal process on behalf of our clients, at no upfront cost. We do not get paid for representing you unless you receive compensation.

Give us a call today. We are ready to help you seek the compensation you need and hold liable parties accountable for your damages.

TSR Injury Law. Experienced Attorneys. Proven Results. (612) TSR-TIME

Tag: going to court