Why Does it Make Sense to Settle a Fayetteville Car Accident Lawsuit?

A car accident lawsuit is a serious ordeal. Some people may think that, if they hire a car accident lawyer in Fayetteville, they are going to walk away with millions of dollars. They envision a long trial with a jury. They think they will be a crowd of people in the courtroom cheering for the plaintiff. This is not how it works in real life. Your Fayetteville car accident lawyer is going to explain how the process works during your initial consultation.

Your attorney’s job is not to make you rich off your car accident lawsuit. Their job is simply to make you whole. They need to make sure that you do not lose out because of someone else’s negligence. They fight to get you compensation for your injuries; but in order to do this, they need to prove two things. First, they need to prove that the other driver was actually the one who caused the crash. The second thing they need to prove in your car accident lawsuit is that you suffered an injury. This injury can be a physical injury or a financial one.

The reason for having an attorney can help is that they know how to negotiate with the insurance companies. They will try to get your claim settled so that you do not have to go to trial. This is because trials are expensive and time-consuming. Nobody really wants to go through with a trial. That is why more than 95% of all Georgia car accident lawyers settle their clients’ car accident lawsuit long before a trial is necessary.

Why are Trials So Expensive?

People do not realize why it is so expensive for your Georgia accident lawyer to take your case to trial. Trials involve a lot more than paperwork. You may need to hire experts to testify on your behalf. You may have to prove your injuries by calling on a doctor or medical expert. You may need to hire an accident reconstruction specialist to prove that the other driver was at fault in your car accident lawsuit. This can get expensive.

When you hire experts, you need to pay them for their time and travel. Not only do you have to pay their hourly rate, but you may need to reimburse them for their mileage and meals. These fees are on top of the money it costs to conduct depositions. This is where your lawyer interviews potential parties or witnesses. They have to pay a court reporter to record the meeting. They also may need to pay other fees. At the end of the day, you will have to reimburse your attorney for these expenses when you eventually settle your case or win your trial.

Settling Your Lawsuit May Make a Lot More Sense

Your Fayetteville car accident attorney will tell you that it often makes sense to settle a lawsuit rather than go to court. Not only is it cheaper, but it also takes a lot less time. Some of the benefits of settling your case include:

  • You do not have to worry about losing in court and getting nothing
  • You get a lump sum of money rather than a judgment that may prove worthless
  • You do not have to worry about it taking years to get your money
  • Your Fayetteville car accident lawyer is going to fight to make sure the settlement amount is enough to cover your expenses

The good news is that your lawyer has years of experience dealing with insurance adjustors. They will not be intimidated by a team of defense lawyers. And they know which companies are more willing to settle than others. They are not going to encourage you to a settlement that is not fair. They have your best interests at heart.

Your Fayetteville Car Accident Attorney Knows You Could Lose at Trial

Just because you are confident that the other driver was at fault, that does not mean the judge will see it the same way in a car accident lawsuit. You could be found to be more liable than the other driver. And, since Georgia follows the comparative negligence rule, your damages are going to be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are more than 50% at fault, chances are, you won’t get a dime. Rather than take this risk, your lawyer can work out a settlement that is fair to both parties.

That’s why it’s a good idea to meet with a skilled car accident lawyer in Georgia sooner rather than later. They can start negotiating with the insurance company right away in order to get the process started. Schedule your free, initial consultation with Wade Law today.

View these other frequently asked questions pages:

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Are Smartphones to Blame for Distracted Driving in Georgia?

 

Can Your Georgia Car Accident Lawyer Prove the Other Driver Was Speeding?