A Pennsylvania Injury Lawyer Can Help You Avoid Litigation
One of the most important reasons to hire a personal injury lawyer is to help keep you out of court. The bottom line is, litigation is costly, it can be very unpleasant, and, in most cases, the results are uncertain. When you file a claim, your goal is to recoup your losses as quickly and conveniently as possible, and your lawyer can help you achieve this by skillfully steering you through the negotiation and mediation process. Here are some of the ways in which a Pennsylvania injury lawyer can help you avoid litigation.
Avoiding Litigation as a Claimant
While it may not seem critical, as a claimant, it is in your best interest to avoid the discomfort and hassle of a trial. The bottom line is, you want a fair settlement for your injuries and losses as quickly as possible, so that you can begin moving on with your life. Furthermore, with a settlement, the amount you receive is definite, whereas a judgment is at the discretion of a judge/jury and can always be appealed. Having a personal injury lawyer on board at the onset of the process can help with this tremendously, as he or she can use all the resources available to pursue negotiation and mediation avenues with the opposing party and reach a settlement.
How Your Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
Strategies your lawyer may employ to get you the result you want include:
- Exercising caution and restraint: Your lawyer can draw on his or her experience to determine which tactics are likely to get you the result you are looking for without unnecessarily aggravating the other party. In the end, this can be the difference in keeping you at the negotiation table and out of the courtroom.
- Avoiding overclaiming your case: Exaggerating costs in most cases significantly prolongs the claim, as the defendant is forced to work to bring the numbers back down to a reasonable level. Your lawyer can develop a fair assessment of damages clearly supported by the facts.
- Making sure all relevant information is shared with the opposing party: Another common mistake that may land you in court is if you withhold information and access to experts from the other party. Your attorney can make sure the other party has access to what he or she needs to establish a spirit of cooperation and a good environment in which negotiations can take place.