Personal Injury in Denver: Possible Outcomes to Your Case
Have you been injured by another person’s negligence? If you have suffered a personal injury in Denver, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages by filing a personal injury lawsuit. One of the first questions that victims may ask an attorney is, “What will happen at the end of my case?” Predicting how a case will end is difficult, but there are several possible outcomes that you should know about.
Settlement
Most personal injury cases are settled outside of the courtroom. Why? Let’s say you are injured in a car accident and the other driver was at fault. The at fault party’s insurance company will not want to pay court costs and attorney's’ fees, so they may try to reach a settlement outside of court because it is much cheaper to do so.
Your attorney will be responsible for negotiating with the defendant’s attorney in an attempt to reach a settlement. That’s why it’s imperative that you work with an attorney who has strong negotiation skills and a track record of success when it comes to winning personal injury cases.
Remember, you do not have to accept a settlement just because it is offered to you. You should never agree to a settlement before talking this decision over with your attorney. If you accept compensation in a settlement agreement, you will have to drop the lawsuit against the defendant. An attorney will be able to advise you on whether it is best to accept the settlement, or whether he thinks you can get more compensation by taking the case to trial.
The Plaintiff Wins
If your case is not settled during pretrial negotiations, it will be taken to court. A jury will listen to the evidence presented by both the plaintiff and the defendant, and then decide whether the plaintiff is entitled to compensation from the defendant. If the plaintiff wins the case, the defendant will be ordered to pay him a specific amount of money.
The Defendant Wins
The plaintiff does not always win, however. If the jury finds that the defendant’s negligence did not cause the plaintiff’s injuries, the defendant will win the case. In this situation, the defendant will not have to compensate the plaintiff. In fact, the plaintiff may have to cover the defendant’s attorneys’ fees and court costs.
The Verdict is Appealed
Either side may appeal the verdict at the end of the trial. For example, if the plaintiff wins, the defendant may appeal the verdict. If the defendant wins, the plaintiff may appeal the verdict in a final attempt to recover compensation. You will have 30 days to appeal the verdict, so you must move quickly to work with your attorney and determine if this is the best decision. You can find out more about personal injury law in this article.
If you have any questions about your personal injury case, attorney Mark A. Simon can help. If you have been injured because of someone else’s negligence, call us at 303-321-4878 or contact Mark A. Simon to discuss your rights during a free consultation.