Advantages of Settlement
Settlement offers several benefits in catastrophic injury cases:
- ✓Certainty of outcome and amount
- ✓Faster resolution (years sooner than trial)
- ✓Avoid emotional stress of trial
- ✓Privacy (settlements can be confidential)
- ✓Structured settlements provide tax advantages
- ✓No risk of adverse jury verdict
Advantages of Trial
Going to trial may be beneficial when:
- ✓Settlement offers are inadequate
- ✓Liability is clear and damages are substantial
- ✓The defendant's conduct was particularly egregious (punitive damages)
- ✓The case has strong jury appeal
- ✓You want to hold the defendant publicly accountable
Factors to Consider
The decision depends on: strength of liability evidence, quality of damages documentation, insurance policy limits, defendant's assets and ability to pay, jurisdiction's verdict history, and your personal tolerance for risk and delay.
Our Approach
We prepare every case for trial, which typically leads to higher settlement offers. Insurance companies know which firms will actually go to court, and they adjust their offers accordingly. Having trial-ready attorneys often secures better settlements without the need for trial.