Why Would You Want to Settle Your Car Accident Case Instead of Going to Trial?

When you watch television shows or movies, they make it seem like every car accident case goes to trial. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, more than 90% of all car accident lawsuits settle. Nobody wants to go to trial if they can help it. Indianapolis car accident lawyers will work hard to settle your case early so you don’t have to wait months or years to resolve it.

If you get into a car accident and suffer serious injuries, the last thing you’ll want to do is deal with lawyers. You’re not going to want to spend hours on the phone fighting with insurance adjusters. All you want to do is get money to fix your car and pay your medical bills. This way, you can focus on getting better instead of emailing a dozen people about your accident claim.

Your Indianapolis car accident lawyer wants to settle your case as well. They understand that trials can be expensive and time consuming. They also realize that there’s no guarantee that you’ll win if you go to trial. This is why you should contact an experienced car accident lawyer in Indiana sooner rather than later. The sooner they get started on your case, the sooner you’ll have your settlement.

There’s No Guarantee That You’ll Win at Trial

If someone crashes into your car, you’re going to be angry. Hurt, and angry. You’re going to want to make them pay. But, in reality, the only thing you can go after them for are the actual damages you suffered.

This means your Indianapolis car accident lawyer will have to prove your damages. It’s not enough to say that the other driver was at fault. You have to prove that they caused the accident. You also have to prove that you were hurt. This sounds a lot easier than it actually is.

No matter how long and hard your lawyer works, there’s never a guarantee that you’ll win at trial. All sorts of things can happen that can derail your case. Some of these include:

  • You never went to the hospital so you’re unable to prove your injuries
  • You didn’t call the police so it will be hard to prove who caused the crash
  • You had a pre-existing medical condition prior to the accident
  • There were several drivers involved in the crash and everyone is pointing the finger at each other
  • You have a bad driving record

What it comes down to is this – will the jury believe you or the defendant?

Trials Can Take Years to Resolve

When you file your car accident claim, there is a chance that the insurance company will pay your claim. If this is the case, you’ll receive your check within a week or two. However, there are a lot of reasons why the insurance company may deny your claim.

If this is the case, your Indianapolis car accident attorney will try to negotiate a settlement with the insurance adjuster. And, there’s a good chance they’ll be able to do this. But, if they can’t, you’ll have no choice but to file suit

When you file your lawsuit, the defendant’s attorney will take you more seriously. They’ll realize that you’re not going to take a low-ball settlement and walk away. The fact that you have a skilled car accident attorney only helps your case.

If the insurance adjuster truly believes that you were at fault, or they doubt your injuries, they’re going to fight back. They may file motions that set your case back for months at a time. This means your case may take years to actually get to trial. The longer it takes, the more desperate you may be for money. This could cause you to take a lower settlement than you could’ve received had you negotiate earlier.

Contact an Experienced Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Accident Case

If you get hurt in an Indianapolis car accident, you’re going to need to focus on recovering from your injuries. You’ll also start to see the medical bills piling up. At some point, you’re going to need money to pay these out of pocket expenses.

A car accident lawyer in Indianapolis will work hard to settle your case. This is why you should call Rowe & Hamilton and schedule your free initial consultation today. You can sit down with a skilled attorney who knows what it takes to get you the compensation you deserve.

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