When we first meet a new client, they usually want to know two things. First, they want to know how much their case is worth. Second, they want to know how long it will take to receive their money.
As much as we would like to be able to answer these questions, there is no way to do that this early in the case. Your Atlanta car accident lawyer needs to see the evidence before they make any determinations. They also need to find out what the defendant’s position is.
At some point, your Georgia injury lawyer is going to discuss the idea of a settlement. Some clients refuse to settle and are insistent that their case goes to trial. While many of them change their minds at some point during the case, others remain steadfast.
If that’s the case, your Atlanta car accident lawyer will take the case to trial. However, most of our clients realize the benefit of settling at some point before the date of their trial.
Here, we will discuss the benefits of settling your car accident lawsuit. If you still have questions about your own car accident case, contact our office directly. We offer all new clients a free, initial consultation so they can discuss their cases with a seasoned Atlanta car accident lawyer. Call us today at (404) 433-6876.
More than 95% of All Personal Injury Lawsuits Settle Before Trial
What you may not know is that more than 95% of all personal injury lawsuits settle long before trial. Nobody really wants to go to trial. Not only are they expensive, but they are also very expensive. Not to mention the fact that you can end up walking away with nothing.
If you lose your case, you won’t receive any damages. Of course, you may win. Unfortunately, even if you win, that doesn’t mean you’ll ever see a dime. The insurance company could go bankrupt. The person you sue may have no assets. It is sometimes a lot better to walk away with less than your full demand than take the chance of getting nothing at all.
It Can Take More Than a Year for Your Case to Go Before a Judge
If you decide to go to trial, it could be a long time before you go before a judge. The civil court dockets are normally crowded. However, the lockdowns during Covid-19 created an immense backlog that has still not been taken care of. This means that it will be at least a year before you end up at trial.
While you are waiting, the medical bills will continue to pile up. In addition, you may not be earning the same income as you did prior to your crash. If that’s the case, you may not be able to pay your other bills. If you end up going to court and lose, you will not receive any money at all.
If you do win, you may not see your money for quite some time. At least with a settlement, you will get a lump sum of money. Once your attorney is paid, you can use that money to pay off any outstanding medical bills you accrued.
There is Always the Chance That You Can Lose at Trial
While many of our clients don’t like to hear it, there is always a chance that you could lose at trial. As strong as your case may be, the judge could end up throwing out some of your evidence. Or the defendant may have information that you are not privy to. If this happens, the judge may decide in the defendant’s favor.
The other possibility is that you are found to be partly at fault for the crash. Depending on what percentage of fault the judge attributes to you, there is a chance you will walk away with very little money. The way the law works in Georgia is that, while you can still collect damages, they’ll be reduced by your percentage of fault.
This means that your demand for $100,000 could be whittled down to just $20-$40,000. Once your Atlanta car accident lawyer has been paid their fee, and you pay back any outstanding medical bills, there won’t be much left. Rather than risk this happening, you should consider accepting a settlement instead.
Your Atlanta Car Accident Attorney Will Negotiate a Fair Settlement on Your Behalf
If you were injured in a car accident, then there’s a good chance you’ll be entitled to damages. The problem is that, even if you insist the other driver caused the crash, the insurance company may not pay your claim.
If this is the case, your Atlanta car accident attorney can always file suit on your behalf. They understand that you are angry and frustrated. However, they also have your best interests in mind. As much as you want to see the other person pay, sometimes, the best thing to do is accept a settlement and move forward with your life.
We suggest that you call our office so you can speak with a seasoned Georgia injury lawyer. We offer new clients a free, initial consultation so they can sit down and go over their case with one of our Atlanta car accident attorneys.
Once your lawyer has a chance to review all the information, they’ll have a much better idea of what your case is worth. When they enter settlement negotiations with the defendant’s attorney or their insurance carrier, they will make sure they don’t accept an offer that doesn’t cover your out-of-pocket expenses.
Furthermore, if you refuse to settle, your attorney will honor your wishes and go to trial. Just keep in mind – not only will this cost more money, but you will also have to pay your Georgia injury lawyer a higher contingency rate.
Call today at (404) 433-6876 so you can schedule your free, initial consultation with one of our attorneys. The defendant will have lawyers in their corner, and you need to have one in yours.
