Many people think they know a lot about personal injury lawsuits because they watch TV or legal shows and feel like they understand what happens. Although some of these programs show a realistic idea of what happens in the courtroom, most of them give a skewed idea of legal work. For instance, here are a couple misconceptions that people have about lawsuits.
1. Most Cases Go To Court
The majority of lawsuits settle. This is for good reasoning. It costs a lot more money to take the suit to court and it will take a good deal of time while you wait for it to be resolved. Instead, if you can get with the other party and resolve it through mediation both parties are happier. The settlement may or may not be as big, but you can get cash in your pocket faster and you don't have to worry about the stress of going to court.
2. Your Winnings May Be Like Winning The Lottery
Sometimes in movies you see people who win millions of dollars in a lawsuit. They might go against a huge company or an individual who hurt them. Although there are some lawsuits that have large payouts the majority are smaller. In fact, the average amount that is won in a personal injury lawsuit is about $28,000. That means there are a lot more that are less than this, and a lot more that are more. But this surely doesn't suggest that lots of people are walking away millionaires after they file a personal injury lawsuit.
This shouldn't discourage you from filing a lawsuit in any way. Instead, it should help you be more realistic about what you expect to get out of it.
3. All Lawyers Work On Contingency
Another thing many people don't understand is that you are going to pay a lot of money in legal fees. In the movies it may seem as though every lawyer works on contingency, meaning they don't get paid unless you win. Although there are some firms that work on a contingency basis, it is not the norm. Instead, there is a good chance that you will pay legal fees whether you win or lose. This is why it is important to make sure that you are ready pay the legal fees before you go through with the lawsuit.
By understanding the misconceptions you can be more realistic and know if filing a personal injury lawsuit is right for you. Contact an attorney like William D. Hochberg for more information.
