I Don’t Want to Sue Anyone After My Car Accident in Manhattan: Can I Still Get Compensation?

While you might desperately need to cover your medical bills after a car accident in Manhattan, the thought of suing someone else might be difficult to stomach. If you’re not the type to sue but you still need to cover your medical bills, consider speaking with Cohan Law, PLLC today. Most personal injury cases settle before trial, and Cohan Law works to resolve car accident claims efficiently whenever a fair settlement is possible.

Settlements Allow You to Recover Compensation Without Suing Anyone

In New York, insurance helps victims recover compensation without the need for trials. The process is relatively straightforward: A victim files a claim through the relevant auto insurance policy and pursues compensation to cover their damages. The insurance provider assesses the claim with help from an “adjuster” and offers a settlement.

When you agree to receive a settlement, you promise not to take further legal action. With this process closed, you can continue with your life and pay for your damages without ever suing anyone in court. A settlement can resolve the claim privately, without testimony in open court and without asking a jury to decide fault.

The Defendant Doesn’t Need to Publicly Admit Fault

If you’re not the type to sue, another potential benefit of the settlement process is the fact that the defendant (the person who caused your crash) doesn’t need to admit any wrongdoing. Paying out a settlement via an insurance policy does not represent “guilt” or “liability.” In this way, you don’t have to worry about destroying someone’s reputation in a public trial in order to cover your medical bills and lost wages.

Don’t Accept the First Settlement Offer

While insurance and the settlement process allow you to avoid “pointing the finger” during a public trial, this doesn’t mean you should accept the first settlement offer you receive. You still have the right to fight for fair compensation during settlement negotiations, even if this process doesn’t occur in a courtroom. In fact, most lawyers would likely advise you to reject the first settlement offer you receive.

This is because the default approach for insurers is to make a “lowball” initial offer, hoping that the victim will accept and move on without much of a fuss. While this might seem like a decent amount of money at first glance, the first offer usually fails to cover all damages. Even though it might feel awkward to “push back” and adopt a combative approach during negotiations, this could save you from financial burdens in the future. A lawyer can handle that communication for you, push for a fair settlement, and keep the process focused on compensation rather than personal conflict.

Key Takeaways

• Most car accident claims never reach the trial stage
• You can resolve the claim and recover a settlement without going to court
• In rare circumstances, negotiations fail and trials become necessary
• Cohan Law works to settle car accident cases without trial whenever the insurer offers fair compensation
• You can pursue compensation through the insurance process without turning the claim into a personal fight with the other driver

Can a Manhattan Car Accident Attorney Help Me?

If you can’t face the prospect of a time-consuming, draining, and stressful trial, you probably don’t need to. The vast majority of auto accident victims in Manhattan recover settlements via insurance without ever going through the courts. Industry estimates commonly report that roughly 95 percent or more of personal injury cases resolve before trial, though every claim depends on liability, damages, insurance coverage, and the insurer’s willingness to negotiate fairly.

If you want to recover maximum compensation without ever setting foot inside a courtroom, contact the New York car accident attorneys at Cohan Law, PLLC to get started with an action plan and a free consultation. We can deal with the insurer, evaluate settlement offers, calculate your damages, and pursue a fair resolution without filing a lawsuit unless litigation becomes necessary to protect your rights.

Source: 

pon.harvard.edu/daily/dispute-resolution/negotiating-in-the-shadow-of-the-law-nb/