You can ask any personal injury attorney in North Carolina and they’ll tell you the same thing – more than 95% of all lawsuits settle. Very rarely do these cases actually go to trial. That’s because going to court is not in anyone’s best interest. It’s a lot cheaper and faster to just settle your case. And, to be honest, your Charlotte injury attorney wants to settle your case. However, that doesn’t mean they’re going to force you to do that.
When it comes to resolving your lawsuit, you have options. First, your attorney will try to get the defendant or their insurance company to pay your claim. If that isn’t possible, they may have to file a lawsuit on your behalf. Once this happens, the defendant may be more inclined to settle. When they know you’re willing to take legal action, they may take you more seriously. Your Charlotte personal injury lawyer will continue to try to settle your case while trial is pending.
If there’s no possible way of settling your lawsuit, you’ll have no choice but to go to trial. Depending on the size of your case, this will be decided by a judge or a jury. Very few cases ever play out the way you see it on television or in the movies. If that’s what your expecting, you may want to talk to your attorney about what to expect. More than likely, your trial will only last an hour or so and you’ll find out if you win or lose. If you lose, you get nothing. That’s why your lawyer will encourage you to settle without the need for a trial.
If you’ve been injured in any sort of accident, it’s good to know that an experienced personal injury lawyer in Charlotte is there to help. That’s why it’s a good idea to take their recommendations when it comes to settling. They have decades of experience handling cases just like yours. They know how the courts and insurance companies work. They have your best interest at heart. However, at the end of the day, the decision to accept a settlement offer is yours and yours alone.
How Much Will Your Case Settle For?
It’s impossible for any skilled injury lawyer in North Carolina to tell you exactly what your case will settle for. They can give you an idea of what the defendant may offer. Once they’ve had a chance to negotiate a settlement, they’ll have a better idea of what may be on the table. For example, if you sue for $250,000, they may push to settle for something close to $150,000. Or, if they see that there isn’t a lot of evidence to support your case, they may encourage you to accept anything over $50,000. It depends on the extent of your injuries and the strength of your case.
The only way to know for sure what your case may settle for is to wait and see what the defendant does. If the insurance company offers half of what you demanded, your attorney will use that as a starting point for negotiations. Usually, your settlement will fall somewhere in between what you ask for and what the defendant is willing to pay.
What are the Benefits to Settling Your Charlotte Car Accident Lawsuit?
Most personal injury cases do settle. This includes car accidents. This is because there are a lot of risks of going to trial. You have no idea if you’re going to win or lose. If you win, great – you may get what you asked for. However, if you lose, you get nothing. Here are some of the other advantages to settling your case:
- It will take a lot less time to settle than go to trial
- Your attorney’s fee will probably be a bit lower
- You don’t take the risk of losing your case
- You’ll get money in a lump sum
- You won’t have to spend a ton of money on experts and witnesses
For all of these reasons, both sides usually want to settle. They don’t want to spend the time and money on a trial. They would rather resolve the matter quickly if at all possible.
Call today and schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer in Charlotte. You can sit down with someone who has handled cases like yours in the past. They’ll give you an idea of what it may be worth. They’ll also fight to get you as much money as possible.
