We always tell our clients that there is a good chance our Lawrenceville accident attorney will settle their case. In fact, more than 95% of all personal injury lawsuits do settle at some point before trial. This is because a trial isn’t good for anybody. If your case goes to trial, there is a chance that you could lose. If this happens, both you and your car accident lawyer in Lawrenceville will walk away with nothing,
Trials can also take a lot of time. In most cases, you’ll be lucky to go before a judge in a year or so. Some cases take even longer. By the time you go to trial, you could have settled your case, paid off the creditors, and pocketed your share of the settlement proceeds. Instead, your Lawrenceville accident attorney will have to spend thousands of dollars on things like expert witnesses, trial exhibits, and other related items.
There are times, however, when going to trial is the only option for getting fair compensation. In this article, we explain the different expenses that come with taking a case to trial.
Why Would Your Car Accident Lawyer in Lawrenceville Go to Trial Instead of Settling?
As much as we would love to settle all the cases we handle, it just doesn’t work out that way. There are those times when, no matter what we do, the defendant is not willing to budge. They are determined to have their day in court.
The trouble with car accident cases is that you are almost always dealing with an insurance company. While you technically sue both the defendant and the insurance company, nine times out of ten, it’s the insurance company that pays your settlement.
The problem with this is that the insurance company has an internal legal team. They don’t need to spend much money defending a denied claim. This means that they don’t have much incentive to settle. Unless they can settle for much less than what is owed, there is no reason for them to offer a fair settlement.
The defendant may make such a low settlement offer that you cannot accept it. If this is the case, your car accident lawyer in Lawrenceville will do their best to press forward and win the case at trial.
If the court rules in your favor, you will get a judgment against the defendant and their insurance carrier. Ideally, the judgment will be paid in a lump sum. If this isn’t possible, your Lawrenceville accident attorney will use the courts to force the defendant’s insurance company to pay the judgment.
You May Need to Hire Expert Witnesses to Testify in Your Case
Depending on the complexity of your case, your Lawrenceville accident attorney may need to hire experts to testify at trial. For example, if the defendant denies that you suffered any injuries, your attorney can pay to have your doctor testify in court.
They can also hire a third-party expert to testify as well. If, for example, the defendant argues that you were the one at fault, your car accident lawyer in Lawrenceville can always hire an accident reconstruction specialist to testify on your behalf.
Your Lawrenceville Accident Attorney May Need to Hire an Accident Reconstruction Expert
Depending on how serious the crash was, there’s a good chance your Lawrenceville accident attorney will need to hire an accident reconstruction specialist. These are people who can determine how an accident transpired.
They will look at the damage to the vehicles and the road conditions. This will help them figure out how fast the cars were going at the time of impact. It can even show them which driver caused the crash. This is why your car accident lawyer in Lawrenceville hires an accident reconstruction specialist.
They can write a final report with their findings and even testify at trial if need be. The best case scenario would be if they provide their report early enough in the case that your Lawrenceville accident attorney can use it as leverage in negotiating a settlement.
It’s More Expensive Than You Think to Take Depositions
In preparation for trial, your Lawrenceville accident attorney will have to get statements from outside parties. They will also need to interview the other driver. The best way to do this is through a deposition. This is when your car accident lawyer in Lawrenceville sits down with the defendant and their attorney and asks them a series of questions.
The defendant is required to answer truthfully. Their responses and your questions will be taken down by a certified court reporter. This way, you’ll be able to submit a copy of the deposition to the court during trial. The problem is that, as useful as a deposition can be, it is very expensive to do them.
Your Car Accident Lawyer in Lawrenceville Will Do Their Best to Keep Costs Down
We understand that the only reason you hire a Lawrenceville accident attorney is so they can get you compensation for your injuries. Most of our clients also understand that the more money their attorney spends on preparing for trial, the less money they’ll get in the end.
Whether you settle your case or go to trial, your car accident lawyer in Lawrenceville must be paid out of the damages you receive. They will also need to be reimbursed for any money they paid for things like postage, expert witnesses, and filing fees. The sooner you settle your car accident case, the less money you’ll have to pay out of your proceeds.
While it is our goal to settle your car accident lawsuit, it isn’t always possible to do so. If your case goes to trial, your car accident lawyer in Lawrenceville will do whatever they can to keep costs down. Like you, they want to net as much money as possible. The amount you’re paid impacts the amount your attorney will receive.
We suggest you contact our office as soon as possible after your car accident. Schedule a date and time for your free, initial consultation.
