Personal Injury Claim: If you have suffered an injury in an accident through no fault of your own, you may be feeling stressed out by the way your life has changed and by the mountain of medical bills that are coming your way.
You may be pondering whether scheduling a consultation with a personal injury attorney in the Northridge area is the right thing to do.
Will it only ensure that you go to court, something that would stress you out even more?
If so, it is important to understand what chances you have of your case ending up in court or if it is likely that you will receive a settlement before that is necessary.
Let’s find out.
Insurance Companies and Personal Injuries
In general, most personal injury claims are resolved through a settlement between the insurance company and the claimant.
In the majority of cases, you can expect the claim to be filed and get settled within a couple of weeks or a few months after the accident took place.
By arriving at a satisfactory amount for your compensation with the insurance company, you will avoid the costly expenses associated with filing a lawsuit and heading to court.
Also, you stand a chance of receiving your payment much sooner than if you have to wait for a verdict in court.
However, the fact that you want to receive your money sooner rather than later does not mean that you have to settle for compensation that is insufficient to cover your expenses or that you have to accept a denied claim.
When faced with this situation, there may be no other option for you to receive the compensation you deserve but to file a lawsuit against the insurance company of the party at fault.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit
When you sustain an injury in an accident, the law allows you two years from the date it happens to file a lawsuit against the negligent party or their insurance.
When you work with an experienced personal injury attorney, they will conduct a thorough investigation into the accident and build a strong case for your defense.
Your lawyer will also make sure that you do not miss any important deadlines that would mean a denial of your claim.
Once you file a personal injury lawsuit, attorneys from both parties will exchange information and negotiations may continue in an attempt to reach a settlement before going to court.
In some cases, the judge may order mediation between both parties through a third-party mediator in an attempt to help the parties reach a settlement that will satisfy everyone involved.
If after every effort the other party still refuses to offer you a fair settlement or continues to deny your claim, there may be no other option for you but to go to court.
However, this happens only in a small percentage of cases since over 90% of them get settled before going to court.
