Appearing in Court after a car accident
When clients come in to see our Greenville car accident lawyer for the first time, they are like a deer in the headlights. They have already had to deal with the trauma related to their car accident. Now they have to face the prospect of suing the other driver. Of course, their primary concern is whether they have a strong case and how much it may be worth. But deep down, they are also worried about whether they will have to go before a judge. Being in a courtroom can be scary. Even when you’re just there to accompany a friend or family member, it can be intimidating. When you’re the plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit, the spotlight is on you.
One thing we like to do is reassure our clients that the odds of their case going to trial are slim. More than 95% of all personal injury lawsuits settle long before trial. Nobody wants to go to trial if they can avoid it. Trials are expensive and time consuming. There is also the chance that you could lose in court. If that happens, you’ll walk away with nothing and so will your accident attorney in Greenville. Here, we will discuss what the odds are of your having to go to court for your car accident lawsuit. If you still have questions and concerns about your own accident case, give us a call. We offer new clients a free, initial consultation. Take advantage of this time to see if your case has merit and whether there is a good chance your case will settle.
You Don’t Have to Physically Appear to File Your Initial Complaint
On television, when somebody is going to sue someone, they show them running to the courthouse to file their complaint. In the movies, this tends to be a very dramatic moment. The truth is that, in the real world, it doesn’t happen like this. You do not have to physically go to the courthouse to file your complaint. Your Greenville car accident lawyer can do this on your behalf. Most of the time, they file your complaint online. Worst case, they can send an original copy of the complaint to the court instead. This means you won’t have to step foot into a courtroom in the beginning.
You May Have to Appear if Your Greenville Car Accident Lawyer Files a Motion
Sometimes, depending on the way your case plays out, your accident attorney in Greenville may have to file a motion. For example, if you need medical treatment and cannot afford it, your attorney may petition the court to have the defendant or their insurance carrier set money aside just in case you win. They may also have to file a motion to dismiss the defendant’s answer to your complaint. While the courts rarely grant these motions, that doesn’t mean your Greenville car accident lawyer won’t have to do this. If this happens, and the defendant puts up a fight (which they will), you will have to go to court. There will be a motion hearing where the two lawyers argue their motion before a judge. You will not have to do much other than attend the hearing and confirm your name and the fact that our firm is representing you.
There is a Good Chance That Your Accident Attorney in Greenville Will Settle Your Case
As mentioned above, more than 95% of all personal injury cases in South Carolina settle at some point before trial. Usually, this happens several weeks or months before your trial date. In fact, many of the cases our accident attorneys in Greenville handle settle before a trial date is even set. It’s in everybody’s best interest that you settle your case. Both you and the defendant risk losing in court. You’ll also have to spend a lot of money preparing for trial. Not only that, but you probably won’t go to trial for six to nine months. Some cases take more than a year to appear on the judge’s docket. If you settle your case, you’ll get a lump sum of money. You won’t have to spend 5-10% of your money on court fees, costs, or other out-of-pocket expenses. Rather than do this, your Greenville car accident lawyer will do what they can to negotiate a fair settlement.
You Should Discuss Your Case with a Seasoned Greenville Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, there’s a good chance you’ll be entitled to damages. Of course, it all depends on who was at fault. If you caused the crash, you can’t expect to sue the other driver and win. However, if the other driver caused the accident, even if you were partially at fault, you may have a valid claim. The best way to find out is to sit down with an experienced Greenville car accident lawyer. Our accident attorneys in Greenville have decades of combined experience handling cases like yours. We are familiar with the way insurance companies operate. We also have a lot of experience negotiating settlements with the insurance companies. Our ultimate goal is to settle your case. As much as you want to go to trial, you’re much better off if your Greenville car accident lawyer can settle your case.
If you have questions or concerns about your own car accident case, feel free to reach out to us directly. We can schedule a date and time for you to come into the office and discuss your case with a seasoned accident attorney in Greenville. We offer all new clients a free, initial consultation so you won’t have to pay anything upfront. This gives you the chance to feel things out and decide if you want to retain our firm. It also gives our team a chance to determine if they want to handle your case.