Benefits Of Hiring Lawyers For Workers Compensation Cases

2 Things You Should Know About A Realistic Personal Injury Lawsuit

by Marilyn Olson

Many people file personal injury lawsuits and are pleased with the results. They get something out of it that made it worth their time. But others spend a good deal of time in court and in legal negotiations only to walk away with nothing. That is why it is important that before you file a personal injury lawsuit that you understand what will go into it and some myths about lawsuits so that you can make an educated decision of whether or not you should file a lawsuit. Here are some things you should know.

1. The Damages For The Lawsuit Will Be Reasonable

One of the biggest misconceptions people have is that they believe that if they win a lawsuit it is like winning the lottery. They expect to have large amounts of money paid out to them, because they were wronged in some way. This is not necessarily how it works. In very few cases will there be punitive damages, which means damages beyond what you can prove in injuries. Punitive damages are usually ordered to punish the other party, and this is done rarely. Instead, the amount that you will get out of the lawsuit will be reasonable to the injury. For instance, if someone hit you with their car you could ask for medical expenses relating to the injury, lost wages, loss of quality of life, like if you will live with a limp for the rest of your life, and in some cases, attorney's fees. Thus, you should expect to only get this amount and most likely no more.

2. You Will Probably Never See Court

Another thing most people don't realize is that the majority of cases settle. This means that even though you may want to go in front of a judge and have them resolve it for you, it is unlikely that you will get that far. In fact, in most cases it is to your benefit to resolve it in mediation. When you mediate you will find a compromise that you can both live with. This means you at least get something. If you go to trial there is always a chance that it won't go in your favor, and after all that time and money spent on the lawsuit, you still have nothing.

Understanding these things and knowing that the slip and fall attorney cannot guarantee any outcome, will help you to determine if filing a personal injury lawsuit is the right thing for you. 

Share