When you suffer an injury due to the negligence of another person, you are entitled to proper compensation. This includes lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and any other damages related to the injury. While most people assume that their personal injury case is going to go to court, many cases are settled out of court. Here are some reasons why not going to trial is a good idea.
You'll Save Time And Money
You may not realize how expensive and time-consuming a trial can be. While there is a potential to win a settlement that is larger than what was offered in mediation, the expenses may completely offset that amount. You are going to have filing costs associated with going to court, the cost of a lawyer to represent you in court, and all of the lost time and wages that are a result of going to court. Look at the overall cost of litigation and how that will cut into your settlement.
You'll Be Less Stressed
The process of going to trial is going to be stressful. You have to relive the situation surrounding your injury, which is something you may prefer not to do. Having to testify in court can also be a stressful experience, as every word spoken is going to be part of your case. A lot more care needs to be put into a trial than going through mediation.
You'll Have Control
A trial means that all of the decision-making power has been taken away from you, and you are essentially hoping for a judge or jury to rule in your favor. This can result in receiving an unfavorable decision where you actually end up being worse off in the end. Mediation allows you to negotiate with the responsible party and reach a mutual decision you can be happy with.
You'll Receive Some Form Of Compensation
Reaching an agreement in mediation means that you will receive some form of compensation from the responsible party. It guarantees that you are not completely responsible for your expenses related to the injury. However, a trial does not guarantee compensation at all. It's possible for the judge or jury to rule for the defendant, and you just get stuck with the court costs.
You'll Not Have The Details Of Your Case Made Public
Be aware that all court cases become part of the public record, which means that others can look up the details of your case and how much compensation you were awarded. If you prefer to keep these details private, then you'll need to settle the case in mediation.
For help with your case, contact a person injury law firm in your area such as Frank Penney Injury Lawyers
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