If you have done any research on car accident lawsuits, you have likely noticed that most claims settle long before they ever reach the courtroom. Why exactly is this the case?

In general, insurance providers and attorneys alike consider trial to be a last resort when it comes to car accident injury claims. There are several reasons for this, including:

  • A jury adds an element of unpredictability: Generally, attorneys and insurance agencies are able to predict, with a fair amount of accuracy, how a case will turn out in the settlement process. Once the case goes in front of a jury, however, that predictability is thrown out the window. You can never be completely sure how a jury will respond and what decision it will reach.
  • It usually is not worth the price: Going to trial is expensive, and it’s almost always best for both parties to avoid it at all costs. In a settlement, both sides maintain far more control over the result, and they do not have to worry about paying all of the fees associated with litigation.
  • Attorneys and insurers understand the value of claims: Car accident lawyers and insurance providers have enough experience working through accident claims that they understand what an injury lawsuit is worth. To that end, it can be a waste of time and money to go through litigation, only to arrive at the same dollar figure an attorney initially expected to reach.

The only situations in which car accident claims typically go to trial is when both parties are so far apart in settlement negotiations that an agreement cannot be reached. If you would like to learn more about taking legal action after a serious Maryland car accident, speak with a skilled La Plata personal injury attorney at Mudd, Mudd & Fitzgerald, P.A.