For many individuals who have seen anything about court or personal injury lawsuits, the terms “settlement,” “trial,” and “verdict” are heard quite often. Many people associate these with one another, but they don’t mean the same thing. In fact, there are quite a few differences between settlements and trials.

Duration, amount, and process are all things impacted by the decision to accept a settlement or go to trial. It’s up to the various parties involved to make a decision and choose what works best, but typically, it’s what’s in the best interests of the plaintiff that determines the route.

Here are some things you should know about both.

Understanding a Settlement After an Auto Accident

Typically, auto accident cases mean dealing with the insurance company of the defendant. During this time, it’s highly likely that should the insurance company accept fault, they may offer a settlement to the plaintiff. These settlement amounts are a way to try and get the plaintiff to avoid trial.

Unfortunately, many individuals accept this settlement offer, not knowing whether or not the amount is adequate enough for their situation. This settlement can be refused or negotiated, but the insurance company is often looking to minimize the amount they pay so the offer may not be as expected.

Going to Trial

If after discovery, trial is the next step, the legal representatives will present the evidence to the court to help them come up with a determination on if the plaintiff should be compensated, and how much based on the evidence and severity of the injury.

Trials typically can help the plaintiff seek the maximum compensation for economic and non-economic damages. It also brings the negligence to light, showing the public the effects of these types of accidents.

At The Daspit Law Firm, we can help you understand what options best suit you given your accident, the evidence involved, and how serious your injuries are. We take a number of things into consideration when representing your best interests.

Our Houston auto accident lawyers can work to explain what option you should consider. We want to put your best interests as our top priority so you can move forward.

Call our firm today and learn what options you may have.