Settling vs Taking a Truck Accident Case to Trial in Lakewood

If you have been injured in a truck accident and are pursuing efforts to recover compensation for damages, you may have already pondered about whether to settle or take a case to court. However, before making your decision, be sure to speak with an attorney about settling vs taking a truck accident case to trial in Lakewood.

Why Should Someone Settle a Case Instead of Going to Trial?

It is always a good idea to explore settlement before going to trial in an effort to learn the relative strengths and weaknesses of the claims on both sides. If a claimant learns that they have a significant weakness on their claim, a settlement may be a good option rather than presenting the issue to a jury and risking a negative result where there is no recovery. All those issues need to be discussed thoroughly between the attorney and the injured party that the attorney represents. This is another good reason why an injured party may wish to hire an attorney as the attorney will be able to better identify the relative strengths and weaknesses of the case and have thorough discussion with the injured party about those strengths and weaknesses.

Frequently, an injured party will think that they have an extremely strong case, but due to their lack of experience handling truck accident cases, they may not be aware of the weaknesses which could undo their case. When an injured party has the benefit of a truck accident attorney in Lakewood who has not only handled other types of cases, but has also been in front of juries in various jurisdictions, the attorney can offer the benefit of that wisdom to the injured party, such that the injured party can better understand the risks involved with that particular claim.

What are the Benefits of Going to Trial?

There are a variety of reasons why an injured party may not wish to accept the offer by the insurance company. It may be, for example, that the injured party feels that their claim is being undervalued by the insurance company. After a thorough discussion with their attorney, both the attorney and the injured party may decide that they may have a better opportunity at trial than they do with the settlement offer that may or may not cover all of the expenses and costs the claimant has already undergone as a result of the accident. It sometimes happens that an insurance company will offer an injured party a settlement that is less than the claimant’s property damage and out-of-pocket medical expenses. This is yet another reason why it is vitally important for a claimant to gain the benefit of an experienced attorney’s wisdom to make a well-informed decision regarding the choice to go to trial or to settle the claim.

What Information Should Someone Take with Them When Meeting with an Attorney?

The more information that the injured party can bring to the lawyer, the better. This includes any pictures of the scene immediately following the accident, insurance exchange information, police report, ambulance bill, and any medical records that the injured party has received. Doing so gives an attorney as much insight as possible into the cause of the accident and why the at-fault party should be held liable for damages sustained by the victim.

How Could an Attorney Benefit Someone’s Case?

Normally, an attorney with several years of experience in personal injury will have been associated with hundreds if not thousands of cases, some of which has gone to different juries and different jurisdictions. All of which have a huge variety of relative circumstances, which will provide a precedent for the attorney to help the injured party make a decision with. That huge depth of experience that the attorney has, the injured party could not possibly have had with respect to auto accidents, particularly truck accidents.

That depth of experience offered by an experienced attorney will allow the claimant to get, not only a better settlement, but a settlement or recovery that is much more likely to be higher and more fair for the injured party. As a result, you should absolutely schedule a consultation to discuss settling vs taking a truck accident case to trial in Lakewood.