A car crash can cause you to need medical care and can alter your everyday life. Suing a person responsible for an accident can provide you with compensation for your injuries if you win your case.
Rather than going to trial, however, parties in a lawsuit will often instead reach a settlement to provide compensation in exchange for releasing legal claims. Bartlett car accident settlements can get you paid faster—if the terms of the settlement are fair and reasonable. The guidance of an experienced auto collision attorney from The Law Office of David E. Gordon & Elissa M. Coombs can help you evaluate a settlement offer and decide whether to take it.
How Does a Car Accident Settlement Work?
A settlement agreement sees two opposing parties coming together to resolve a legal claim. Depending on when a settlement is proposed, negotiated, and agreed upon, how a settlement is carried out can differ.
For example, an injured person might send a demand letter through their attorney to a person or entity they believe to be responsible for an accident well before bringing a lawsuit. In some cases, this early demand can be enough to convince the other side to negotiate and find an amount that compensates fairly for the injuries suffered, avoiding litigation entirely.
Settlement can also occur during the litigation process, at any time before a final verdict is reached. As the process moves from initial pleadings to discovery and approaches trial, a defendant can find it more convenient to pay an amount in settlement and have the injured person give up their claim than risk an unfavorable trial verdict. By making an agreement and filing it with the court, parties can resolve a lawsuit even if they have been adversaries up to that point.
In both situations, an attorney can help an injured person protect their right to compensation with a settlement. A Bartlett lawyer can work with an injured person to get a settlement that compensates them adequately after a car accident.
Why Do I Need a Lawyer To Agree to a Car Accident Settlement?
Accepting a settlement might seem simple—sign on the dotted line and get paid. However, a settlement offer might not get the compensation the injured person deserves.
An offer to settle can be calculated to avoid the costs of litigation, from the fees of attorneys and court filings to the time spent fighting in court. The total compensation a car accident victim might win at trial could be higher than the amount offered in settlement, and a defendant can start with a low offer in an effort to save money overall.
An attorney can work with an injured individual to see what a claim should be worth and then calculate any discount for settling, depending on how far the claim has progressed. Total compensation can include medical costs, lost income, and property damage not covered by insurance, as well as an amount for pain and suffering and emotional distress.
The terms of a settlement agreement can also affect its value, such as agreeing to keep a settlement confidential or to give up all claims a person might have beyond the specific claim brought. Conferring with attorneys like David & Elissa before finalizing a Bartlett car crash settlement can keep a person’s interests safe and maintain the option of bringing a lawsuit if negotiations stall.
Talk Through a Possible Car Accident Settlement with a Bartlett Attorney
As your representative and agent, a lawyer can negotiate a settlement for you, valuing your claim for what it is worth and not accepting a lowball offer solely for convenience. There are benefits to reaching Bartlett car accident settlements without the inconvenience of a trial, but you should have an attorney’s guidance to do it.
The Law Office of David E. Gordon and Elissa M. Coombs can give you the help of experienced professionals who can fight for you. For a free consultation on the possibility of a settlement, contact our offices and make an appointment today.
