Jordan
Car accidents can vary widely in severity, some resulting in far more damages than others. In every circumstance, it is your right to pursue legal action to seek compensation for the negative impacts the accident inflicted upon your life. However, whether you go to court or not to resolve your case depends on the details of your accident. There is some crucial information that will inform you of whether you must appear in court after your collision or not.
Reasons You Might Go to Court After an Accident
No matter the extent of the damages or injuries incurred during your accident, you must contact a lawyer. A lawyer will be able to guide you every step of the way after a collision and help you decide whether it’s best to pursue legal action in the form of a lawsuit. Too often, insurance companies are less than helpful in these circumstances, neglecting to guide policyholders on how to resolve a case fully. If you have limited knowledge of the legal system, you may be left on your own to navigate the logistics following the incident.
Further, your insurer may be severely delaying their conclusion on liability in your case. This is one of the primary reasons why victims of car accidents would have to appear in court. If your insurance company and the insurer of the guilty driver are unable to agree on liability, a judge and jury must step in. They will offer impartial insight regarding which of the affected parties was negligent and, therefore, accountable for the crash.
This is one of the many cases in which appearing in court will not be left to your choice. Another instance in which you would have to attend a court hearing after an accident is if you are summoned as a witness. Upon receiving notice, you cannot refuse to attend without legal consequences.
What to Expect When Your Car Accident Case Goes to Court
Keep in mind that you are not obligated to accept any settlement that is offered to you. Lowball settlements are another prominent reason why many car accident victims bring their cases to the courtroom. Small settlements restrict victims’ ability to fund their recovery, and so are beyond unacceptable in any circumstance.
During your trial, you can expect the following to happen:
- Your lawyer will present all evidence as clearly as possible to the jury. This evidence may include a variety of media such as dashcam footage and medical records.
- The jury will deliberate based on all presented evidence. Note that both you and the guilty party will both be allowed to present evidence of the collision. Of course, with the proper preparation, however, there is no need to fear a negative outcome at this point.
- The judge will make the final order, and if all goes according to plan, you will earn the compensation owed to you.
Attending a court hearing for a car accident can be a stressful and confusing experience. With the help of an experienced car accident lawyer, however, you’ll be prepared for even the toughest of cases. Get in touch with a lawyer today to determine whether you need to take your case to court to hold the guilty party accountable for your crash.
