Why Most Auto Accident Lawsuits Don’t Go to Trial

Every year, there are 6 million car accidents in the US and 3 million of them result in an injury of some sort. Two million of these accident victims suffer from permanent injuries.

If you or someone you love has been in a car accident, you may be considering a lawsuit. If you don’t know much about how auto accident lawsuits in Modesto work, you’re in the right place.

We’ll explain the ins and out of car accident lawsuits and explain why most of them are settled before they go to trial. Read on to learn more.

It’s Expensive to Go to Trial

Taking a case to trial is costly in terms of time and resources. Cases could go on for years and the costs of all of the pre-trial processes, like depositions, document production, and research can add up quickly. Many trials also include expert witnesses, accidental reconstruction specialists, and others who must be paid.

Prepping for a trial is extremely expensive and that cuts into the profits of both the attorney and the plaintiff, assuming that the case is won. If you lose the case, the attorney is often out thousands of dollars that they spent prepping the case.

Insurance Companies Want to Settle

Insurance companies want to settle and they want to do it fast. There’s a good chance that the insurance company offered you a settlement shortly after the accident. They often do that, and lowball you, so they can settle the case for as little as possible and move on.

Don’t agree to any settlement with the insurance company until you fully understand the scope of your injuries and speak to an experienced car accident attorney.

Trials Are Unpredictable

Trials bring a level of unpredictability that settling a case does not. When you take a case to trial, you’re putting it in the hands of a jury. No matter how strong your case is, you never know how a jury is going to act.

A jury is unpredictable for everyone—for the plaintiff, who may lose or get a much smaller settlement than they expect, and the defendant who may have to pay out a huge amount to the plaintiff.

You Get Your Money Quicker

While the settlement process may not be quick, especially if you can’t agree on a settlement amount with your insurance company, it will be much quicker than if you took the case to trial.

In many cases, plaintiffs need the money sooner rather than later, as they are incurring medical expenses, might need to repair property or replace their vehicle, and may be losing wages due to missed work.

If a plaintiff doesn’t have the cash available to cover these costs, they may be going into debt to pay them while they are waiting for a settlement or trial to commence. If you negotiate a settlement, you can get a check and move on much quicker.

It’s More Profitable For Your Attorney

Car accident lawyers generally work on a contingency basis, meaning they don’t get money unless they win the case for you. They often will advance any costs to prepare the case, such as depositions, accident reconstruction specialists, etc., and the quicker they get paid, the quicker they can replenish their cash.

Beyond these costs, the longer a case takes, the more time it takes for an attorney to represent the client, and this means that the ratio between the settlement and the amount they worked on the case goes down.

Attorneys for both sides (plaintiffs and defendants) have a financial interest in settling a case rather than taking it to trial.

A Car Accident Attorney Understands a Case’s Value

If you select an experienced car accident attorney, they should have knowledge of what your case is worth and can advise you if the insurance company is giving you a fair settlement.

Experts know what your injury costs are and how much you can expect to pay to deal with the issue and how much you can expect an insurance company to offer you. A car accident attorney and an insurance company representative will often be able to hash out a fair settlement and avoid the courtroom altogether.

Attorneys Can’t Take Every Case to Trial

Attorneys are typically not just taking on one case at a time. Rather, they have multiple cases to manage, and there simply isn’t enough time to take all of their cases to trial. If every case went to trial, the process would take even longer, as attorneys would be unable to fully prepare for every case to go to a trial.

Trials Are Long and Grueling

A trial can be a grueling process and the defendant has to be prepared to have their life scrutinized and every detail laid out for the jury. It’s normal for insurance companies to examine a defendant’s social media accounts, send a private investigator to take photos of them to try to call into question their injuries, or bring in witnesses who will try to discredit them.

If a plaintiff isn’t willing to go through all of that, taking the case to trial is not a wise decision.

Settling Auto Accident Lawsuits in Modesto

Settling an auto accident lawsuit in Modesto is typically a much better outcome for a plaintiff than taking the case to trial. Most plaintiffs don’t have the time or desire to take a case to trial, and neither do attorneys.

Do yourself a favor and hire an experienced car accident attorney to represent you in your car accident lawsuit. They will negotiate a fair settlement for you.

Sweet Lawyers can provide a 100% free case consultation. Contact them today for a review of your case.