We understand that you want to resolve your personal injury case as quickly as possible. Most injured Asheville, North Carolina residents feel the same way. As such, many people agree to settle their claim without giving the issue careful thought.
Before making any decision, you should make sure you understand what you might be giving up by settling out of court.
Why do people choose to settle a personal injury claim?
One of the leading reasons people choose a settlement is to stay out of the courtroom. Many people feel apprehensive about appearing in court, even when they have done nothing wrong.
Other benefits of choosing to settle your injury claim include:
- A settlement typically takes less time than injury litigation in most cases
- You get a guaranteed payout through settling, while litigation can go either way (you could lose)
- It usually costs less for you to accept a settlement compared to litigation
- If you have privacy concerns, settling keeps the details of your case away from public scrutiny
You also need to understand the disadvantages of settling your personal injury claim. For example, settling closes the door on other methods of financial recovery. If your injury worsens or you need additional medical treatment, a lowball offer could leave you unprotected.
If you do decide to settle, be wary of doing it alone. You will be up against an insurer who has far more experience in this field than you. They will use that to try and persuade you to accept less than you are entitled to. Having help to understand your legal rights to compensation and set a realistic target will be crucial.
We urge you to learn more about litigating and settling an injury claim in North Carolina before you make any permanent decisions. You can find more information on our website and blog.