Those who have suffered personal injury can only understand the pain. Accidents come without any sign and change the standard of living at the same time. The individual, who used to drive to work, now requires bed rest for about three months. Apart from the physical pain, he puts the victim in financial trouble.
Medical expenses, money for regular household expenses place victims and their families under extreme mental pressure. People start borrowing randomly and accumulate huge debts which add to their psychological stress.
Car accidents often come at an even higher cost by killing the people involved in the mishap. Accidents resulting in death put the victim’s relatives in crisis. Circumstances suddenly become harsh and they are left to lead a compromised lifestyle.
It is important that people return to their normal lives as soon as possible. For this they need money. Filing a personal injury claim often helps victims resolve their money problem. The civil court, after verifying all the evidence, may rule in favor of the victims and ask the opposing party to pay compensation.
Sometimes, if the chances of winning are high, Florida attorneys try to settle out of court. Without a court hearing, the opposing party is called and asked to pay negotiated compensation to the victim.
Many people get confused between settling out of court or pursuing the case in a local civil court. There are advantages and disadvantages to both processes and only an experienced personal injury attorney can suggest which avenue is right for your case. However, let’s review the scope of both options from a general perspective to get a better idea of the processes.
Settlement out of court:
Since the claim for compensation is paid by the defendant’s insurance company, the chances of them entering a settlement process are higher. Insurance companies prefer settlements out of court because the process is less expensive than going to court.
Therefore, personal injury settlements are completed quickly. Often it also satisfies the urgent need for money. Sometimes the process ends so quickly that victims receive compensation while they are still in the hospital. That definitely helps to recover quickly.
However, compensation out of court often pays a lesser amount. It generally covers exact medical expenses, nothing more. Settlements rarely compensate for job loss or other damages.
Litigation:
The process can be very time consuming to finish. No one can guarantee when the victim will receive compensation unless the case is excellently planned by a local Ft Lauderdale accident lawyer. The process requires a lot of paperwork to complete. Turning your case over to a professional and trustworthy personal injury lawyer with a good track record is essential.
When personal injury claims are filed in civil court, the chances of obtaining a satisfactory amount of compensation are high. The court considers several things when calculating compensation: job loss, changes in the lifestyle and quality of life of the victims, mental and physical pain, and other costs, such as auto repair expenses, if applicable , are also calculated apart from medical expenses.
Bottom line:
It is best to ask your personal injury lawyer to decide if a settlement or filing lawsuits in court is right for you. Not all accident cases are the same and the lawyer is the best person to give an opinion on which option should be followed. In general, for small amounts, the settlement out of court sounds good. But, for higher compensation, file a personal injury claim in your local court.