Some people wonder if a lawyer could bring their injury case in front of a jury and receive a court award worth millions of dollars. This does happen, but it’s rare. A large majority of cases are settled out of court, which has distinct advantages for the injured person. Unless a Personal Injury Attorney in Pittsburgh PA believes the compensation should be much higher than the insurer is offering, settling usually is the best option.
A primary reason to work with a Personal Injury Attorney in Pittsburgh PA is that these lawyers know when a settlement offer is reasonable or not. They also have experience negotiating with insurers, so their clients receive higher offers.
The Speed of Financial Compensation
Settling a personal injury case with the help of an organization such as the Law Offices Of Hall & Copetas is substantially faster than going to court. It may take several months, but wrapping up a court trial could take years.
The lawyers must have time to develop their cases, and the trial must be scheduled on the docket at some point in the future. The trial itself may not last very long, but the insurance company may appeal a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The company still does not have to pay until the appeal is over, and everything is finalized. And the company might win during the appeals process.
Public Record
Another problem with a trial is that everything typically is public record. A settlement is private. The person may not want all the details that come up during a trial to become known to friends, relatives, co-workers, and neighbors. The insurance company’s legal team will do what it can to paint this individual in a negative light.
Unpredictability
Also, it’s impossible to know what a jury will decide. If the jury decides in favor of the defendant, the injured person does not receive any compensation at all. If the jury cannot agree, the case has declared a mistrial. The lawyer and the client have the option to bring the case to trial again, but by now, a great deal of time has gone by.
