Will my personal injury claim go to trial?

Thinking about settling your personal injury case? Talk to Hassakis & Hassakis first.

category: Illinois Personal Injury Lawyers,Personal Injuries

Why are settlements
so common in personal injury cases?


A personal injury settlement is seen as a "win-win" by both the plaintiff and the insurance company in most instances. This is due to several factors, such as:

  • Trials are often drawn-out, time-consuming, and, most importantly, expensive processes. No one wants to spend large amounts of money chasing a judgment, especially plaintiffs who have a much more limited amount of money compared to an insurance company.
  • While there is a chance that plaintiffs could get a large jury award, it remains just that: a chance. Settlements give personal injury victims guaranteed money in a much shorter timeframe.
  • Between attorney fees, court costs, and other necessary expenses, plaintiffs most often do not take home the whole amount of a jury award. Settlements, in many cases, make better financial sense.
  • Most American insurance firms are publicly traded companies. They answer to their shareholders, not their customers, and shareholders want nothing more than to minimize large, unnecessary expenses—like lawsuit payouts.
  • Going to trial is frequently a sizable risk for a personal injury plaintiff. Insurance industries spend millions upon millions of dollars on ads every year to portray themselves as friends of the consumer. They can afford some of America's best lawyers, who usually portray accident victims as liars only in it for personal gain. Many personal injury cases that do go to trial, as a result, are decided in favor of the defendant.

Why Do Personal Injury Cases Go To Trial?

Although the overwhelming majority of personal injury cases are settled, there are a number of reasons why some cases end up going in front of a judge and jury. Insurance companies have been known to occasionally offer settlements that are much lower than what most plaintiffs would need to properly cover all their expenses. In these cases, going to trial is oftentimes a smart choice. Low-ball offers could help influence a judge or jury and strengthen your claim against the insurance company.

Our firm has also encountered cases where the attorneys for one or both sides are highly confident they can win in court. Maybe the plaintiff's story is a sympathetic one, or an insurance company is confident that the plaintiff is fabricating or exaggerating the outcome of their accident. It could also be that the insurance company is dragging its feet in offering a settlement. The act of making court filings and other motions is a sign that a plaintiff (and their attorney) means business and is a great way to grab a defendant's attention and Either way, there are a large number of reasons why a case may or may not go to trial—each one is unique.

Contact Experienced Southern Illinois Personal Injury Lawyers Today

When you have been in an accident, trust the Ilinois personal injury lawyers at Hassakis & Hassakis. Southern Illinois residents have relied on our attorneys for more than 70 years because we give every case the personal attention you expect. Call us today at 800-553-3125 or contact us online today to speak with a lawyer and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

Share this article:

Down to earth, knowledgeable, handled my legal issue in a timely fashion. 😎

- William Rauen

View All Testimonials

category: Illinois Personal Injury Lawyers,Personal Injuries

Why are settlements
so common in personal injury cases?


A personal injury settlement is seen as a "win-win" by both the plaintiff and the insurance company in most instances. This is due to several factors, such as:

  • Trials are often drawn-out, time-consuming, and, most importantly, expensive processes. No one wants to spend large amounts of money chasing a judgment, especially plaintiffs who have a much more limited amount of money compared to an insurance company.
  • While there is a chance that plaintiffs could get a large jury award, it remains just that: a chance. Settlements give personal injury victims guaranteed money in a much shorter timeframe.
  • Between attorney fees, court costs, and other necessary expenses, plaintiffs most often do not take home the whole amount of a jury award. Settlements, in many cases, make better financial sense.
  • Most American insurance firms are publicly traded companies. They answer to their shareholders, not their customers, and shareholders want nothing more than to minimize large, unnecessary expenses—like lawsuit payouts.
  • Going to trial is frequently a sizable risk for a personal injury plaintiff. Insurance industries spend millions upon millions of dollars on ads every year to portray themselves as friends of the consumer. They can afford some of America's best lawyers, who usually portray accident victims as liars only in it for personal gain. Many personal injury cases that do go to trial, as a result, are decided in favor of the defendant.

Why Do Personal Injury Cases Go To Trial?

Although the overwhelming majority of personal injury cases are settled, there are a number of reasons why some cases end up going in front of a judge and jury. Insurance companies have been known to occasionally offer settlements that are much lower than what most plaintiffs would need to properly cover all their expenses. In these cases, going to trial is oftentimes a smart choice. Low-ball offers could help influence a judge or jury and strengthen your claim against the insurance company.

Our firm has also encountered cases where the attorneys for one or both sides are highly confident they can win in court. Maybe the plaintiff's story is a sympathetic one, or an insurance company is confident that the plaintiff is fabricating or exaggerating the outcome of their accident. It could also be that the insurance company is dragging its feet in offering a settlement. The act of making court filings and other motions is a sign that a plaintiff (and their attorney) means business and is a great way to grab a defendant's attention and Either way, there are a large number of reasons why a case may or may not go to trial—each one is unique.

Contact Experienced Southern Illinois Personal Injury Lawyers Today

When you have been in an accident, trust the Ilinois personal injury lawyers at Hassakis & Hassakis. Southern Illinois residents have relied on our attorneys for more than 70 years because we give every case the personal attention you expect. Call us today at 800-553-3125 or contact us online today to speak with a lawyer and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

Share this article:

recent review:

William Rauen


Down to earth, knowledgeable, handled my legal issue in a timely fashion. 😎

- William Rauen

View All Testimonials