How Personal Injury Claims are Settled

The vast majority of personal injury claims are solved in a mutually-agreed settlement between two or more parties without a trial. If you’ve been injured in an accident due to another’s negligence, contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible to ensure that your rights are protected and you can be fully compensated for your injuries and losses.

After you hire your attorney, the defendant and/or insurer can only contact you via your attorney rather than you directly, and your attorney will handle direct negotiations and help you understand your options. During the “discovery” phase, your attorney will gather information and build your case based on evidence and justification for compensation. In cases in which direct negotiations don’t lead directly to a settlement, the claim may move to “mediation” and the parties will select a mediator to help guide the negotiations and ensure that an agreement can be reached. Multiple meetings or follow-up calls may be necessary in the mediation process, so don’t be discouraged if the initial meeting does not result in a settlement.

If mediation does not work, arbitration or trial may be necessary. Arbitration is similar to mediation in that the parties jointly select the arbitrator, but the arbitrator serves more as a judge and jury rather than a facilitator of negotiations. Arbitration agreements can be “binding” or “non-binding;” non-binding arbitration allows you to reject an unfavorable decision and proceed to trial if necessary, while binding arbitration generally replaces a court ruling and settles the case.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to negligence, 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.