No one wants to go to court. Period. No one looks forward to filing a personal injury claim, but it’s the process that many are forced to take when insurance companies won’t settle for what the claim is worth. Just because you file a lawsuit, doesn’t mean your case will go all the way to the courtroom. Rest assured, most cases settle before making it that far.
Most Americans can simply not afford the financial expense associated with a medical emergency or auto accident. Less than half of us even have enough money in the bank to foot a $1,000 bill, let alone cover our entire medical deductible (which average over $4,000 in the U.S.) if we’re lucky enough to be in the 91% of us that have some form of health insurance. In fact, medical emergencies are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the United States. These medical expenses directly contribute to over 50% of the bankruptcy cases in our country.
So what can you do if you’re injured, out of work, and need money to cover even basic expenses like groceries, rent, and utilities? What do you do if those medical bills just keep climbing? If your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness (such as a distracted driver) you could potentially file a personal injury claim in Arkansas. Such claims can help victims get financial compensation or reimbursement from legal parties that share in the liability (responsibility) for the accident in which you were injured.
What is a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury claim isn’t necessarily the same as a personal injury lawsuit. A personal injury claim is essentially a legal claim that an injured individual makes against an at-fault party (or that party’s insurance policy) in order to get compensation or reimbursement for expenses incurred as a result of an accident.
Claims can result in:
- Insurance payouts
- Settlements
- Court verdicts and jury awards
Why Don’t More People File Personal Injury Claims in Arkansas?
The number one reason victims who could potentially file personal injury claims don’t is simply because they don’t want to go to court. They may have heard horror stories about how long court cases can drag on, how hard it can be to prove their case, how difficult the lawyers for the defendant can make other aspects of their life.
However, as an experienced personal injury attorney in Arkansas, I can tell you, you likely don’t have to worry about that at all. Why? Because the vast majority of personal injury claims are resolved before they ever reach a courtroom.
In fact, according to statistics collected by The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), only 2% of personal injury claims go to court. Why is that?
Defendants are incentivized to settle out of court because it can save them a significant amount of money in the long run. Not only will they be able to avoid expensive legal fees collected by lawyers (even, potentially, those incurred by you, the victim), they’ll also likely be able to settle for an amount smaller than a jury may award if a case is successfully pursued in court.
But Isn’t a Smaller Award Bad for Me?
Not at all. If you’re working with an experienced personal injury attorney in Arkansas, they’ll always push for an out-of-court settlement that’s fair, accurate, and adequate. Indeed, one of the very first parts of pursuing a personal injury claim is to formulate a demand letter that accurately represents all of the expenses that should be covered by any potential settlement. This is an important step in the process, which may determine the outcome of your case.
Plus, if your personal injury claim does settle out of court, you’ll often receive the money you need and deserve faster than if your case went to trial.
Bottom Line
Attorneys should always be their client’s best advocate. Experienced attorneys know when a case should be settled and when a case should be tried before a jury. Skilled attorneys can properly evaluate your case prior to settlement to ensure you receive the maximum recovery possible and leave nothing on the table. Having an advocate on your side who knows the system does make a difference in the outcome of your case.
Have More Questions About Personal Injury Claims in Arkansas?
We are here to help. Contact the expert legal team at the Pfeifer Law Firm today. Get in touch with us online or call 501-374-4440 for your free, no-pressure consultation. After-hours and weekend appointments are available. And you don’t owe us anything, until we recover for you.