One of the first questions accident victims asks their car accident lawyer in Connecticut is how much their case is worth. The second thing they want to know is how long it’ll take for them to get their money.
The truth is that every case is unique. It wouldn’t be fair for your attorney to make any guarantees this early in the game. However, they can reassure you that they’ll work hard to settle your case rather than go to trial. They’re also going to work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve.
More than 90% of All Personal Injury Cases Settle Before Trial
A lot of accident victims assume their car accident lawsuit will go to trial. They envision having their day in court, telling their story to a judge and a group of jurors. In reality, it rarely works out that way.
More than 90% of all car accident lawsuits settle long before trial. This is because trials are expensive and time-consuming. They also carry a lot of risk for both parties. Rather than face these challenges, your Hartford car accident lawyer will work hard to negotiate a settlement of your case.
Your Hartford Car Accident Lawyer Will Negotiate a Settlement with the Defendant
Your Hartford car accident lawyer has years of experience negotiating settlements on behalf of their clients. They know how to deal with large insurance companies. They aren’t intimidated and will fight for what they believe you deserve.
However, negotiating a settlement does require that you compromise somewhat. You can’t expect to get your full demand. If the defendant was willing to pay that much, they’d just take their chances in court. Your attorney is going to push for an amount that is fair and covers all of your out-of-pocket expenses.
Will You Have to Settle If You don’t Want To?
At the end of the day, deciding whether to settle is up to you. Your Hartford car accident lawyer may encourage you to accept a settlement. However, they won’t force you to do this.
For example, if the settlement will cover nothing more than your attorney fees and medical bills, you may want to go to trial. After all, you want to walk away with something for your troubles. It’s important to understand that it’s not your lawyer’s job to make you rich. It’s their job to make you whole.
Just because a settlement doesn’t offer you thousands of dollars in pain and suffering, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take it. You need to think about the best possible outcome. You also need to accept that, if you go to trial, you could lose. If that happens, you walk away with nothing.
There Are Risks If You Go to Trial
Personal injury trials don’t always work out the way they make it look like on television. There isn’t going to be a jury hanging on your every word. In fact, most car accident lawsuits are decided by a judge.
If there is a jury involved, they could go either way. Just because you’re confident that the defendant was at fault, the jury may decide differently. If they find in the defendant’s favor, you get nothing. In fact, if the defendant has filed a counterclaim, they may get a judgment against you.
That’s the last thing you need. Trials are also very expensive. Your Hartford car accident lawyer may have to pay for expert witnesses, depositions and other legal costs. Rather than risk this, it’s a good idea to consider settling your case.
Your attorney isn’t going to encourage you to accept a settlement that isn’t fair. If they tell you it’s a good idea to settle, it’s because they have your best interests at heart.
You Should Call and Meet with an Experienced Hartford Car Accident Lawyer Right Away
Some people wait until it’s too late to hire a Hartford car accident lawyer. They try to handle things on their own until they realize they’re in over their head. The problem is that, if you wait too long, there may not be much your attorney can do. You only have two (2) years to file suit in Connecticut.
This is because of the statute of limitations. If you miss this deadline, there’s nothing your Hartford car accident lawyer can do. The judge isn’t going to overlook this kind of issue. They’ll dismiss your case, and you’ll have no other way to collect damages.
That’s why it’s better that you call an auto accident attorney with Injured CT sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the less time your lawyer has to prepare your case.