Do Most Personal Injury Cases in Santa Monica End in Settlement?
If you’ve been injured in an accident that was caused by the negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct of another party, then California law may entitle you to compensation for your losses.
Though many would-be plaintiffs are entitled to damages under the law, many wait-and-avoid litigation, choosing not to pursue their claims. They may avoid seeking legal representation for a number of reasons: because they are intimidated by the prospect of litigation, or perhaps because they are worried about the expense of an attorney.
Here at 1-800-THE-LAW2, our attorneys provide legal representation at no upfront cost. They only get paid if (and when) you do. Consultation is free, too, so there’s no risk to calling in to learn more about whether you have an actionable case.
Curious about some basic litigation issues? Let’s cover settlement.
Trial is Best Avoided
When parties enter into litigation, most prefer to avoid the challenges of trial. Trial is expensive, uncertain, and to some degree, exhausting. Depending on the case, a trial could see the timeline of your case extended several months, or even up to a year.
Most important, however, is the uncertainty. From a strategic point-of-view, uncertainty is undesirable.
As such, the large majority of cases actually never make it to trial. Instead, they are resolved through a negotiated settlement compromise before trial ever occurs.
The Dynamics of Settlement
Given that it’s more likely your case will be settled (as opposed to going to trial), it’s worth understanding how skilled attorneys will work to maximize your personal injury settlement amount.
As a general rule, the more “certain” your case is, the more likely that your settlement will closely align with your damage claims.
Certainty has two aspects:
Aspect 1
How likely it is that you’ll establish the defendant’s liability.
Aspect 2
How likely it is that the court will agree with your damages claim.
