If you have suffered injuries in an accident in Salem, you should understand your options in terms of recovering damages to cover your expenses. Although you have the right to take your personal injury case to trial, you can also choose to settle it outside of the courtroom.
If your medical bills are going through the roof and you have no income because you can’t go to work, you may want to accept the first offer an insurance company may make. But, this is usually not the best option. To make the right decision that makes sure you receive maximum compensation, discuss your case with a skilled Salem Oregon personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer knows when exactly to settle and when to take further legal action.
How Complicated is the Personal Injury Claim Process?
While your injury resulted from the negligence of another party, you need to prove this to the insurance company and court to recover compensation. Often, it is hard to find irrefutable evidence of the other party’s fault. Or several parties could be held liable for your injuries. In fact, it can be tricky to prove your injuries resulted directly from the accident.
Usually, compensation for minor injuries is quite straightforward. But, if you endured greater damage, you will want to demand a bigger compensation amount. With so much money on the line, the at-fault party’s insurer and defense lawyers will dig into each aspect of the case to reduce the payout they need to make. Usually, they will delay the case to try to wear you down, hoping you will agree to offer in desperation.
Benefits of Settling Your Injury Case
Usually, settling your case outside of court is possible as long as the insurance company is willing to make a fair offer. Your attorney will handle the negotiation process and determine when to accept an insurance offer. The benefits of a personal injury case settlement include the following:
- You can quickly resolve your case. Settling an injury claim within court intervention allows for a quicker resolution than when you go to court. The settlement involves back and forth negotiations and while this may take a while, it is just a fraction of the possible timelines involved in a trial.
- You know the settlement amount to expect. When your case goes to trial, a judge or jury will decide on the amount they will award you in the verdict. And you may not get anything when they dismiss your case. When you choose to settle with the insurance company outside of court, you know how much to get based on the result of the negotiations. And you get a faster payout.
