Do I Have to Go to Court After a Car Accident in FL?
Being involved in a car accident brings a lot of stress and worry to the victims and their family members. They often want to seek justice and fair compensation, but they aren’t sure how to do so, or they are afraid of ending up in court. The truth is, you don’t necessarily have to go to court if you file a personal injury claim after a car accident. In fact, most personal injury cases settle before reaching the litigation stage. Suppose you were injured in a recent car accident. In that case, it’s in your best interest to reach out to an experienced Tampa car accident attorney who can help you with your next steps.
How a Car Accident Claim Works
After a car accident, one of the first things you should do is hire a seasoned Tampa car accident lawyer. Your attorney can help you file a claim against the other driver’s insurance policy. They can discuss with you what your claim might be worth and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. This may take several weeks or months, depending on the specifics of your case. For example, if your case involves multiple injured or at-fault parties, catastrophic injuries, or is complex in another way, it can take longer.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), approximately 97 percent of all personal injury claims are settled this way outside of court. This means there is very little chance that your case will go to court.
The Benefits of Settling a Claim Outside of Court
You should also keep in mind that it’s your choice whether you want to litigate your claim or not. If you feel that you have been offered a fair settlement and you don’t want to go to court, you can agree to settle your claim and be done with it. Often, injured parties and insurance companies alike prefer to settle their claims outside of court because doing so:
- Saves time
- Saves money
- Prevents the injured party from having the mental/emotional stress of going to court
- Doesn’t risk how an insurance company looks in the public eye
- Gives both parties more control over the resolution of the claim
You should talk to your Tampa car accident attorney about what they believe will be a fair settlement offer in your case and what your chances might be if you take your claim to court. Perhaps you have a very strong case that isn’t garnering the settlement it deserves. You might want to consider litigating your claim. Even still, the ultimate decision is yours, not your Tampa car accident lawyer’s.
Get in Touch with an Experienced Tampa Car Accident Attorney Today
Don’t let your fears of having to go to court keep you from contacting an experienced Tampa car accident lawyer about your injuries. It’s your claim, and you call the shots. If you shy away from contacting an attorney or pursuing an injury claim, you could be passing up settlement monies that you deserve for your injuries. At Matthews Personal Injury Law, we offer no-obligation case reviews for car accident victims. You can reach us by phone at 813-530-1000 or online to schedule yours today.