Carrollton�Car Accident Settlements

One of the options available for Carrollton car accident settlements is a global settlement of the claims for a monetary amount.�All cases�begin with negotiations with an insurance adjuster for the defendant’s insurance company. If�the adjuster�believes that settlement will be made or can be achieved in the case, they begin negotiating with the attorney to see if there�is a number that�is fair to you.

That�number is�then�presented to you�by your skilled car accident attorney. The�settlement decision is always in your hands.�Never allow your attorney to settle claims without your prior knowledge.

How Carrollton Car Accident Settlements Work

Lawyers,�judges and police officers�go to court all the time,�on a daily basis,�but�that�is not something a lot of people�ever want to do.�The potential client�has�the option to settle prior to filing a lawsuit�(based upon the�opinion and evaluation�of their attorney)�as to�any�settlement offer made by the insurance company.

A�fair settlement offer prior to trial by the insurance company�is a gift for the injured person. Attorneys work on a contingency fee basis�so�any�settlement prior to trial would be a 33% fee as opposed to a 40% fee once a lawsuit is filed.�Once�a lawsuit is filed,�and is�into the court system,�the court system does not move�quickly�and it may take a year to get to trial.

Reasons to Settle Instead of Going to Trial

When deciding whether to consider Carrollton car accident settlements, it is important to keep in mind that every case is different. In some cases, there are actions made by the�injured person that could put some fault on them. Other times, there are certain insurance companies out there that make fair offers based on the injuries they sustained.

Lastly, it�is all up to the victim. Certain individuals are frightened of the court process and the court system, so�if they�end up filing a lawsuit�and take�depositions,�if it goes to�trial, they are fearful they�will be called to the witness stand.

Reasons to Refuse a Settlement

If Carrollton car accident settlements are too low, then�the cases often proceed�to trial.�An experienced accident attorney can quickly estimate�what a case should be worth.�Attorneys will�inform the person throughout the process as to what the insurance company is�offering to settle their case,�and�what they think the value of the case should be�for settlement purposes.

How an Attorney Can Help

If someone is interested in discussing�Carrollton car accident settlements with their attorney, they should bring a copy of�the�accident report,�any and all�pictures of their vehicle,�pictures of�the scene of the accident,�as well as�pictures of�the other vehicles involved in the accident, any pictures of the individual’s injuries�(any visible bruising,�or things of that nature), their driver’s license, their health insurance cards, and a copy of their insurance�Declaration�page if they have one.

Before the�statute�of�limitations runs�(which is two years from the date of the accident�in both Georgia and Alabama, with some exceptions), an attorney can meet with you to explain what they�believe the strengths�and�the weaknesses in the case may be, so they can help you make an informed decision as to�whether�or not you should proceed with the trial, or pursue�Carrollton car accident settlements instead.