Do children’s personal injury cases typically settle or go to trial?
Children’s personal injury cases, just like most other personal injury cases, typically settle before they ever reach a trial. This usually occurs for a variety of reasons and depends on the unique circumstances of each individual case.
The biggest reason a child personal injury case would settle instead of going to trial would be that trials are risky for all involved. Most families dealing with an injury to their child have already lost money and time, and the medical bills continue to pile up. A trial is lengthy, often not beginning until a year after the case was filed, and there is no guarantee that there will be compensation at the end. A settlement allows the injured child and their family to avoid taking a risk on a trial and instead get their accident-related debts paid and move on from the pain of the incident as quickly as possible.
Insurance companies also prefer to settle personal injury cases to avoid going to trial. First, a trial is expensive and because insurance companies are a business, they look to avoid spending more money than is absolutely necessary. They also want to avoid being forced to pay an award by a sympathetic jury that could be disproportionate to the injured child’s actual accident damages, sometimes labeled a “runaway verdict”. While these types of verdicts are usually only seen in cases with serious injuries, and the verdict may be overturned later, they can happen in any personal injury case.
Finally, a defendant may want to keep their name out of the public eye. Instead of going to trial, which would be public knowledge, the defendant may request a confidentiality agreement that the plaintiff would be required to sign as a part of the settlement in exchange for a larger settlement amount. This is often seen in cases involving defective products as a means to keep the case as quiet as possible.
If your child has been injured in an accident, contact 844 See Mike for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.
We see you as a person, not just a client – and that makes us better at the work we do. We listen. We learn your story. And, as we help you get the money you deserve, we go above and beyond in a way most law firms never could and never would. Because we’re not just lawyers. And you’re not just a client. We’re friends, neighbors, family. We’re all people and here at 844 See Mike, we put People, First.
Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. Our unique formula has earned us over 900 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 120 five-star reviews on Google. Call 888-572-0176, e-mail us at michael@agrusslawfirm.com, or schedule a meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.
Submitted Comments
No Comments submitted yet. Sharing your story will help others!