Most personal injury claims are settled before going to court, which is why many injury lawyers haven’t tried a case in front of a jury. However, some cases need to be pursued all the way to trial, especially when both sides cannot come to an agreement. This can be the case if the defense knows your attorney hasn’t ever taken a case to trial before.
The reason it matters to hire an attorney with trial experience is that insurance companies keep tabs on personal injury attorneys. They know which lawyers have and haven’t been inside the courtroom, which attorneys will accept an offer on the courthouse steps, and which lawyers are softies. In fact, some lawyers have reputations for settling cases every time. As a result, the other side might not make a fair settlement offer if they know they are up against an inexperienced attorney.
You Want a Tough Attorney
If you hire a lawyer without trial experience, you might second guess the settlement he or she accepted. Did your attorney recommend that you accept the settlement offer because it was fair or because he or she didn’t want to go to trial? You may never know unless you have an attorney in your corner ready and willing to go to court.
Although an accident attorney without trial experience may have the knowledge to deal with your injury claim and know what your case is worth, it is an entirely different ballgame to take a case before a jury. You need to know that you have an attorney on your side who will push back and not accept an unfair settlement. You need a lawyer who makes the other side take your case seriously and will threaten trial in order to collect the compensation you deserve.
Do yourself a favor and ask an injury lawyer questions before hiring him or her. Does the law firm have the resources to take your case to trial, if necessary? What are some of the law firm’s past jury verdicts? By knowing the answers to these questions, you can rest assured knowing you will get the maximum compensation possible in your case.
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