The Difference Between Settlement and Trial
There are two general ways in which civil claims of different types can be resolved. This includes personal injury claims. A case can be resolved through a settlement or a judgment in a lawsuit.
When considering a personal injury case, there are in fact two different types of settlements that potentially can occur. First, there can be a settlement in an insurance company. Second, there can be a settlement of a lawsuit once litigation has initiated.
Insurance Claim Settlement Process
In the immediate aftermath of an accident, a claim with an insurance company typically is filed. Pursuing an insurance claim may seem relatively easy on paper. In reality, successfully pursuing the settlement of an insurance claim is a challenging endeavor in many instances.
An insurance company is in business to make money for shareholders. An insurance company enhances profits by lowering the amount of money paid in settlements. For this reason, an injured person typically is best served by engaging the services of a skilled personal injury lawyer.
Our team of Baltimore personal injury lawyers at Murphy, Falcon & Murphy recognize the differences between settlements and going to trial in order to help our clients. Regardless of the route we take, we work hard to seek the outcome our clients deserve. When it comes to settlements, however, if the maximum compensation is not offered, it may be best to go to trial for the injured party.
Lawsuit Process
The lawsuit process begins with the filing of paperwork in which your claim for damages is set out. This paperwork nearly always is completed by a lawyer. A process commences once a lawsuit is filed. This includes preliminary matters and potentially even different types of court hearings. Typically, all along the way, the parties to a lawsuit attempt to reach a settlement of the case. In fact, a majority of lawsuits never end up reaching the trial stage.
When a case does reach a trial, both parties have the opportunity to present evidence. Depending on the nature of the lawsuit, including the amount of money involved, the trial will be held before a judge and jury or a judge alone.
Once all of the evidence is presented by both parties, a decision is made either by the jury, if there is one, or the judge. The judgment will set forth the compensation or other relief a plaintiff is to receive in a personal injury lawsuit.
Retain Legal Counsel
In order to protect your rights in a personal injury case and avoid being taken advantage of by the defendant’s legal team, you want to hire competent representation. During an initial consultation, our team can provide you with an overview of your case and your legal options. Our Baltimore personal injury attorneys will listen to your goals and align our strategies in order to keep your needs as our top priority.
Contact our team for your free case review.