Personal injury lawsuits over auto accidents are often resolved out of court through private settlement agreements. Settling a car accident case in Pennsauken has a lot of upsides as well as some possible downsides, and it’s not always the best option for people who can’t get insurance companies to play fair with them.
A settlement is also the most likely way your case will conclude. It’s worth knowing a little bit about this process in advance. Here’s a broad overview of what you want to be aware of before starting settlement negotiations, each aspect of which your experienced car accident lawyer can explain in more detail as needed.
Do I Have to Settle My Car Crash Case Out of Court?
You’re under no obligation to agree to any settlement offer presented to you after a Pennsauken car crash or participate in settlement talks in the first place. You always have the right to take your case to a civil court for a judge or jury to issue a verdict on. Sometimes, doing that can help you get more money than you would’ve been able to negotiate into a settlement.
At the same time, settling a car crash claim gives you much more direct control over what outcome that claim has for you. A court may rule against you, so you get paid nothing at all. On top of that, the settlement process is substantially cheaper and faster than taking a case to court, so it’s always something worth discussing as an option with your lawyer.
Basic Steps in the Settlement Process
After you formally file a claim with a car insurance provider after a wreck, the insurance company will conduct a thorough investigation of your accident, your medical records, and all other evidence you have to support your claim. Once everyone’s finished gathering all the information they need, there will generally be several rounds of private negotiations where each party presents and counters terms they’d want to have included in a final settlement agreement, sometimes with assistance from a third-party mediator.
Once a settlement agreement is reached in a Pennsauken car accident case, you sign some legally binding documents that formally end your claim and guarantee that you get paid a certain amount over a certain period of time by the insurance company. Finally, your attorney will handle the process of paying off creditors—for example, hospitals that provided care you haven’t paid for—with your settlement funds, and whatever remains after that will be sent to you by check or wire transfer.
Get Help from a Pennsauken Attorney with Settling a Car Accident Case
The fact that it’s common to settle a car wreck lawsuit out of court doesn’t mean it’s easy to do so. Getting favorable terms in a settlement agreement can be next to impossible if you try to go through the entire process without support from seasoned legal representation.
If you’re looking into settling a car accident case in Pennsauken, contacting a skilled car accident lawyer from our team should be among your top priorities. Call Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today to discuss your unique case.
