From a practical standpoint, our Roswell accident attorneys know that there’s a good chance our client’s case will settle. However, the only way we can settle your case is if you agree to it. We would never force a client to accept a settlement. In fact, we wouldn’t even pressure somebody to settle if they really didn’t want to.
More Than 95% of All Car Accident Lawsuits Settle Long Before Trial
What most people don’t realize is that more than 95% of all personal injury cases settle. Very rarely do our accident lawyers in Roswell have to take a case to trial. This is a good thing.
When we settle a case for a client, they walk away with a lump sum of money. They don’t have to wait for a year or more to learn their fate. They also don’t run the risk of losing if their case does go before a judge.
At Some Point, Your Roswell Accident Attorney Will Discuss a Settlement
Before your Roswell accident attorney even files suit, they’ll discuss a settlement with the insurance adjuster. If there’s a way to resolve your claim without having to file legal action, it’s a win for everybody.
If your insurance claim was denied, your accident lawyer in Roswell will file an appeal on your behalf. If the insurance adjuster refuses to pay your claim upon appeal, then we’ll have no choice but to file suit.
Your Roswell Accident Attorney Will Try to Settle Your Claim with the Insurance Company
If your insurance claim was denied, there is a chance your Roswell accident attorney can work something out with the insurance adjuster. It really depends on the reason why your claim was denied.
If the insurance company denied your claim because you didn’t provide them with all the necessary information, it won’t be hard to resolve. However, if the insurance adjuster truly doesn’t believe your claim should be paid, that will be another story.
If You Do File Suit, the Judge Will Require Both Parties to Attend Mediation
Even if you have to file suit against the other driver, the judge will still try to encourage you to settle. Like most other civil courts, the courts in Georgia are pro-settlement. The last thing the judge wants is cases clogging up their docket for no good reason.
After your Roswell accident attorney has a chance to perform discovery, the judge will likely set a date for mediation. This is a good chance for your attorney to sit down with the defendant’s attorney and see where they stand.
It’s also a good time to try to negotiate a settlement. The odds of you receiving the full amount of your claim are low. At some point, your accident lawyer in Roswell will compromise. This is the best way for you to get the compensation you deserve.
Your Accident Lawyer in Roswell Would Never Force You to Settle
It is one thing for your Roswell accident attorney to negotiate a settlement on your behalf. It’s another thing entirely for them to try to force you to settle your case.
Typically, our accident lawyers in Roswell approach settlement negotiations in one of two ways. Sometimes, our clients will give us a bottom-line number that they’re willing to accept in a settlement.
Other times, our clients prefer for us to communicate all settlement offers made by the defendant. They will then make a decision on each offer.
Whichever way it is handled, you should know that you will never be pressured or forced to accept a settlement that you don’t think is fair.
Your Lawyer Has Your Best Interests at Heart
One thing you have to remember is that your Roswell accident attorney has your best interests at heart. The last thing they want to do is put you in an uncomfortable position.
At the same time, there are many cases in which our accident lawyers truly believe a settlement is your best option. For example, if there is evidence showing that you were partially at fault, you should consider settling.
You could end up going to trial and losing. That’s the worst-case scenario for both you and your accident lawyer in Roswell.
The Rules of Ethics Prohibit Your Roswell Accident Attorney from Forcing a Client to Settle
It’s also important for you to understand that the Rules of Ethics in Georgia prohibit lawyers from pressuring their clients to settle. Rule 1.2 of the Georgia Bar Rules of Professional Conduct states that a client has the ultimate say in how their case is pursued.
If your Roswell accident attorney is pressuring you to settle, let them know that you’re not comfortable with that.
Our lawyers are all well-versed in the Rules of Professional Conduct. There is no way any of our accident lawyers in Roswell would force you to accept a settlement.
At the same time, you do need to understand that, at some point, a settlement may be your best option. If your attorney is concerned that you could lose at trial, they will recommend that you settle. But they will not force you to do so.
Your Accident Lawyer in Roswell Will Explain the Benefits of Settling
When our Roswell accident attorneys first meet with a new client, they usually ask us how much their case is worth. That’s a reasonable question to ask. However, when we tell them there’s a good chance their case will settle, they don’t seem happy.
A lot of people who have been hurt in car crashes want to have their day in court. They want somebody to stand up and announce that the other driver was at fault. The problem with this attitude is that it doesn’t always get you the money you deserve.
We recommend that you call our office so we can schedule your free, initial consultation. Sit down with a seasoned personal injury lawyer in Roswell and let them explain how a settlement works. Since the consultation is free, you have nothing to lose.
