Trials in Chicago Personal Injury Cases

Most of the time, personal injury cases settle out of court. Trials significantly increase the legal costs associated with those proceedings and can drag out the process, which means that both sides may want to reach a settlement agreement instead of having to go to court. Trials in Chicago personal injury cases often require the support of an attorney, who can present your case on your behalf and argue in favor of the compensation you really deserve.

Common Reasons for Trials in Personal Injury Cases

Ultimately, trials in Chicago personal injury cases occur because the two sides cannot reach a reasonable agreement regarding the compensation the injured party deserves. However, there are some obvious signs that a case may prove more likely to go to trial.

  • Complex legal issues and disputes over the law, which could indicate that the case needs to go to court for a full resolution
  • Inability to arrive at a similar settlement number
  • Unreasonable settlement offers from the insurance company
  • The insurance company denying coverage for a specific claim despite clear evidence that they should pay out

Before a personal injury claim goes to trial, both sides will typically have gone through several rounds of negotiation as they try to arrive at a fair agreement. Then, the lawyers from both sides and the plaintiff will sit down for mediation, during which they will try a final time to reach an agreement. Only after that point do cases typically go to trial.

The Importance of Legal Representation at a Personal Injury Trial

When a personal injury claim has to go to trial, having a Chicago-based lawyer to represent the injured party can make a huge difference in the ultimate outcome. A lawyer can offer assistance in several key ways.

Presenting Evidence

A lawyer can provide the evidence needed to show both that the liable party bears responsibility for the claim and that the injured person does deserve the compensation they have laid out. Evidence can include things like:

  • Photo or video footage from the time of the accident
  • Witness statements
  • Police reports, if relevant
  • Medical records
  • Medical bills
  • Reports regarding the impact on the injured person’s life

A lawyer can pull all of that together as part of a comprehensive case, showing the judge or jury exactly what led to the incident and what compensation the injured person should expect.

Explaining the Client’s Needs and Protecting Their Rights

Often, part of a personal injury trial includes presenting the needs and losses of the injured person. Not only can a lawyer clearly lay out how the injuries affected the individual, they can offer more information about their specific legal rights, the laws that apply, and how the insurance company or liable party has violated those rights by failing to pay out the compensation deserved.

Contact a Chicago Attorney to Discuss the Possibility of a Personal Injury Trials

Trials in Chicago personal injury cases can help the injured person get the full compensation they deserve, even in cases where the insurance company or liable party might otherwise refuse to pay. Working with an experienced personal injury lawyer, however, can prove essential. At McCready Law, we help navigate claims, including the trial process. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you with your claim, whether you are in the early stages of negotiation or believe your case may proceed to trial.