If you got injured in a car accident, you might be thinking of filing a personal injury claim to seek compensation for your economic and noneconomic damages. One of the major components of personal injury claims is dealing with insurance companies, who will try their best to minimize their payout. You might need the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer to help you navigate through different steps of the case. In this article, we look at statistics analysis of settlement amounts and outcomes and the pivotal role of insurance companies in personal injury claims.
Personal Injury Case Settlement Amount and Outcome
A large number of personal injury claims are settled out of court. According to the statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice, only 4% or 5% of personal injury claims go to trial. While auto accident cases that go to trial have the highest success rate, the least successful are medical malpractice trials.
In most personal injury cases, you’ll have to deal with a claims adjuster from the insurance company. After you filed your claim, the insurance company might assign you a claim adjusted to determine the amount of damage that resulted from the car accident. The claims adjuster may have to gather documents, such as accident reports or police reports, to compile information about the case. They might also reach out to the claimant to ask questions about pre existing medical conditions and request documentation such as medical bills and proof of earnings.
According to a study, the typical payment in personal injury cases has a wide range. You can expect a payout anywhere from $3,000 to over $75,000. The settlement amount in personal injury cases depends on several factors, including the amount of damage.
A key factor in the settlement amount is the defendant’s insurance policy, as the insurance company won’t offer a personal injury case settlement that is over their policy limits. This is a common reason for personal injury cases to go to trial.
Impact of Lawyer on Personal Injury Case Outcome
Personal injury lawyers have the experience to deal with insurance companies in personal injury cases, and to handle other aspects of the case. A survey showed that a claimant has 91% of receiving a payout with a lawyer, compared to just 51% without legal representation. The presence of a lawyer also had a major impact on the amount of settlement; however, that would depend on the facts of the case and available evidence.
One of the reasons lawyers are able to secure a higher settlement amount is that they use their negotiation skills. Claimants are often pressured to accept the first offer from the opposing party, while lawyers are better equipped to determine when to accept an offer, and when to seek more compensation for their client. Another benefit of having a lawyer on your side is that they expedite the process ensuring the opposing party does not get to unnecessarily drag the case to frustrate the claimant in accepting an unreasonably low offer. Click here to learn more about personal injury claims.
