What Are The Pros And Cons of Out of Court Personal Injury Settlements?

There are several benefits to accepting a negotiated financial settlement after an accident, which often outweighs the emotional confusion and general uncertainty clients endure when their case is finalized through a trial.

At Hanning & Sacchetto, LLP  our personal injury attorneys in Whittier, California have successfully represented clients in both out of court settlement negotiations and at trial with the singular goal of pursuing the financial compensation each deserves for their unique injuries.

What Is An Out of Court Personal Injury Settlement?

An out of court personal injury settlement means the involved parties choose to avoid taking a case to trial by agreeing to an agreeable settlement amount.

When this happens, the injured party and our lawyers will hold closed door negotiations with the negligent party’s attorney, insurance representative, and possibly a mediator to reach a financial settlement that does not involve a judge or a jury.

Our experienced Whittier auto accident attorneys will provide the legal guidance our clients need to consider a fair settlement during our negotiations. However, if we do not believe we can reach a full resolution, and negotiations break down, we will seek fair financial recovery from a jury trial.

What Are the Advantages of Accepting A Negotiated Personal Injury Settlement?

There are several advantages to accepting an out of court financial settlement arising from a personal injury claim or claims.

They can include:

• Reduced stress and anxiety by avoiding a courtroom appearance in front of a jury;
• Costly trial expenses are avoided, such as: expert witness testimonies, additional depositions, travel, and attorney fees;
• A degree of control over the outcome of the case through finalizing the settlement details behind closed doors, instead of asking a jury to decide for you; and
• Privacy from keeping the details of the case off the public record by settling out of court.

Once your case is settled, you can move forward with confidence knowing you have the financial support you need to put the accident behind you.

What Are the Disadvantages of Avoiding A Personal Injury Jury Trial?

When our Whittier personal injury attorneys take a case to trial, it is to pursue the best outcome available for each unique case that goes beyond negotiated settlements.

One disadvantage of accepting a settlement is that the client may not feel satisfied by the result, believing they may have received more if they had their day in court. Unfortunately, there is no way to know if that is true, as trials are unpredictable.

Other times, personal injury clients may believe the person responsible for their injuries or the loss of their loved one may be getting let off the hook for their actions when we settle out of court. However, given the unpredictable nature of jury trials, there is no way to guarantee that a client will feel that the responsible party was not “let off the hook.”

At Hanning & Sacchetto, our  Whittier personal injury Lawyer focus on pursuing our client’s best interests and provide a fully transparent approach to handling each case, working hard to achieve the best outcome available inside or outside the courtroom.

Contact our Whittier personal injury attorneys at Hanning & Sacchetto, LLP today to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help you pursue the financial recovery you deserve.