Car accident cases can go to court or they can be resolved through a settlement. Some people opt to pursue a settlement because this can put them more in control over what they get. If you are considering a car accident settlement, think about each point that is contained in the agreement.
For some people, there are specific points in the settlement that might be deal breakers. An example of this is that many settlement agreements stipulate that no admission of wrongdoing is made. If you are trying to hold the other driver accountable for the accident in a public manner, this might be a deal breaker for you.
Car accident settlement terms aren’t absolute until an agreement is reached. Settlement negotiations occur through alternative dispute resolution or mediation. During the back and forth, you can make your wishes know about what you are going to accept.
If you do opt to go through the negotiation process, you should keep an open mind. The settlement amount is one area that you will probably have a lot of negotiating. Working with your attorney can help you to determine what amounts you should seek. It is a good idea to decide on a starting point for the negotiations. You should also decide on the lowest settlement amount you are willing to consider.
Settlements are often a faster way to resolve a case. This makes it the preferable solution to many car accident cases because the injured party won’t have to wait as long to get the compensation he or she needs to pay bills and take care of other life expenses.
Source: FindLaw, “Car Accident Settlement Basics,” accessed Feb. 17, 2017
