Imagine you were shopping at the grocery store and you slipped on a broken bottle of juice. You fell and broke your hip. You’ve been receiving months of medical treatments and rehabilitative therapies ever since. You’ve endured extreme and chronic pain as a result of the accident.
Fortunately, because the owner was at fault for not clearing the aisle of the slippery juice, you have a viable personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your damages. Ultimately, once you decide to pursue your case, there are two primary ways that it could come to a close:
Seek an informal settlement: You might contact the defendant and/or the insurance company representing the defendant to try to negotiate a financial settlement. This could be achievable without even filing a lawsuit. Also, many litigants will settle their personal injury claims early in the litigation process. Alternatively, a settlement agreement might only come at the last minute just before the final trial.
Taking the case to trial: Not all personal injury claim defendants are willing to settle a matter. Sometimes they disagree with the plaintiff’s view of the facts, and they’ll fight the suit all the way to trial. During trial, both sides will have an opportunity to present evidence, witnesses and expert testimony, and a judge or jury will decide whether the plaintiff is entitled to receive financial compensation.
Did you suffer a serious injury due to the actions or negligence of someone else? An experienced personal injury attorney can help you determine whether you have a viable claim for damages and, if so, help you pursue it.