Do Most Personal Injury Cases Go to Trial in Boise, Idaho?
When people think of personal injury lawyers, they think of men and women dressed in sharp suits walking up the courthouse steps. Lawyers spend years training how to file legal paperwork and present their cases in court. They study how to talk to a jury and generate compassion for their clients.
What most people don’t know is that very few cases actually go to trial. Sure, you may have to file a lawsuit. But filing a lawsuit doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll ever see the inside of a courtroom. The truth is most cases end up settling long before you ever reach the courthouse steps.
There are lots of reasons why cases settle. It doesn’t mean that your lawyer is intimidated. It doesn’t mean that the defendant is necessarily 100% at fault. Also, it means that the lawyers for both sides understand that a settlement is in the best interests of all parties.
Why is it a Good Idea for Your Personal Injury Lawyer to Settle Your Case?
When you get hurt at the hands of another, you want justice. You’re angry and frustrated. You expect your personal injury lawyer to be just as frustrated and angry. In the real world, it doesn’t work this way.
In order for your lawyer to do his job, he can’t get frustrated or angry. Sure, he wants to fight hard to get you the compensation you deserve. And he’s passionate about his job. But his goal is to get you compensated for your injuries. It has very little to do with his personal feelings toward the defendant.
Your lawyer knows that, usually, it’s in the best interests for all parties to negotiate a settlement. There are many reasons for this:
- Settlements take a lot less time than trials – Some trials can drag on for months or even years. During this time, you don’t receive any money at all. Your lawyer also receives nothing during this time.
- Trials are expensive – It takes a lot of money to put on a successful trial. You need to pay for things like:
- Filing fees
- Expert testimony
- Medical records
- Motion fees
- Parking, travel, and lodging
- There is no guarantee you’ll win in court – Just because you weren’t at fault, doesn’t mean you’ll win in court. Winning is not just about being right. It’s about what you can prove.
- You may get less in court than you think – If your case does go to trial, you may not get as much as you think. Even if you’re demanding a certain amount, the judge or jury may award you much less.
- Getting a judgment doesn’t mean you’ll get paid – Even if you win a judgment against the defendant, it doesn’t mean he’ll pay it. A judgment is only as good as the paper it’s printed on. With a settlement, the Defendant usually agrees to payment terms upfront.
Your personal injury lawyer in Boise understand this.
How Often Do Personal Injury Lawyers in Boise Settle Their Cases?
Most personal injury cases do settle. In fact, over 94% of all personal injury cases in the United States settle every year. This means that only 5-6% actually go to trial. So, when people talk about trials, they really are rare.
Personal injury lawyers in Boise know this. Some have probably only tried a handful of cases in their careers. The same is true for the defendant’s lawyer. Nobody likes to go to trial. Settlements are the best way to resolve personal injury cases.
So when your lawyer talks to you about a settlement, don’t be offended. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t think you have a strong case. It simply means he wants to get you as much money as he can, as quickly as he can. He also wants to save you as much money in the process.
Call and Schedule a Consultation with a Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, call and schedule your consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Boise today. Depending on your injuries, you may be entitled to thousands of dollars in compensation.
Your initial consultation is free. It gives you a chance to meet with an experienced attorney who can answer any questions you may have. He’ll review your case. He may even reach out to the defendant’s attorney right away to try to negotiate a settlement.
Trust that your personal injury attorney knows what he’s doing. He has your best interests at heart at all times. He will only do what he thinks is the right thing for you!