Your first step is to develop an understanding of your case. You want to be able to speak with authority and understanding as you navigate the finer points of the lawsuit together with your attorney, and you want to make sure you’re keeping up with the details as they happen. There are a few basic points common to every personal injury lawsuit that provide a good place to begin your analysis
The easiest question to answer is also the first one. What type of claim do you have on your hands? Put more informally—what happened to you? There are a variety of common injuries and incidents that personal injury lawyers can help you reach a settlement for, and it’s a good idea to seek out an attorney who has experience with your specific issue. When meeting with a potential attorney, this is one of the first questions you should ask. Potential claims include:
The next question you must answer is whether you hope to take your case to trial, or whether your preference would be to reach a settlement. Whichever choice you make, you want to choose an attorney who will earnestly support you. Make sure you discuss your options with potential attorneys when making your choice and select someone who is enthusiastic about the way you want to proceed. Your attorney works for you, so he or she is bound to take things in the direction you want them to go. However, the results will be much better if the person you’re working with has passion and conviction.
In most cases, the defense will offer a financial settlement before the trial, and you and your attorney will have the opportunity to confer on whether to accept. According to the Bureau of Justice, as many as 96% of cases resolve at this point and never go before a jury. Why such a high rate of settlements? There are several factors influencing the decision:
If it’s so risky to go before a jury, why does anyone do it at all? The most important thing to consider is the settlement offer made by the defendant. In some cases this offer is too low to be acceptable to the plaintiff. This is particularly relevant when there is a preponderance of evidence supporting the plaintiff’s claims, and yet the defense refuses to offer a reasonable settlement. In such a case as this, it is often preferable to go to trial. The evidence provides the necessary confidence that the case can be won, and if it is, the financial award is likely to be significantly greater than what was offered. The decision of whether or not to take a case to trial should be discussed regularly with your attorney, and you must make sure you’re working with someone who is willing to hear your opinions on the matter. Choosing a lawyer who includes you in the decision-making process is absolutely vital.