Why is it important to have a trial ready personal injury lawyer in Arizona?

Although people expect that most personal injury cases end in an out-of-court settlement, where the insurance company reviews what happened and offers a fair amount, the simple truth is, sometimes this doesn’t happen.

Reputation means a lot, and having a reputable trial-ready injury lawyer will often compel most Arizona insurance companies to make a better settlement offer in the hopes of avoiding expensive trials that can end in an settlement even more unfavourable towards the insurer.

What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do to Prepare a Case for Trial?

• Investigate how the accident occurred
• Identify potentially responsible parties
• Gather medical records and other documentation
• Obtain witness statements
• Review photographs, video, and other evidence
• Consult relevant experts
• Analyze the client’s damages
• Research applicable Arizona law
• Prepare legal arguments
• File a lawsuit when appropriate
• Conduct discovery
• Take depositions
• Prepare witnesses
• Develop a trial strategy

If a lawyer is known to push for every cent, is not afraid of a lengthy trial, and can prepare a strong case, most insurance companies will be very careful in choosing the amount offered, and some might even offer more than what’s fair straight away.

Let’s dive a bit deeper and give you more details.

Why are insurance companies weary of trial-ready personal injury lawyers?

Insurance companies are businesses, first and foremost, and they are also mainly focused on their bottom line, just like any other business. In practice this means that they will try to save as much money by reaching lowest possible settlements, and even try to avoid payouts where possible.

If they believe that a lawyer is unwilling to file a lawsuit, or unable to prepare a strong and compelling case, they will have very little incentive to offer a fair amount.

On the other hand, if a lawyer is known to be ready to go to court, and can support their client’s case, the insurer will have to account for what will happen next, and consider all the extra time and expenses that preparing and fighting a court case will bring with it.

This doesn’t mean that you or your lawyer can threaten the insurer with a trial and a lawsuit, and they will accept a settlement straight away. Insurance companies usually have teams of lawyers and attorneys that will pick up on all the weaknesses in your case from the get-go, so your lawyer needs to prepare a strong case from the beginning,  as if it was always going to go to a trial. This will include preparing witness statements, medical and all other types of evidence.

When a personal injury lawyer has demonstrated a willingness to take the case to court, along with the knowledge and preparation necessary to win the said case, the insurance company will in many cases offer a fair settlement, in hopes of avoiding additional expenses that a trial might incur.

How to know which injury lawyers have trial experience?

At this point, you might already be wondering; With so many lawyers in Arizona, how can I know which injury lawyers have trial experience?

When talking to your lawyer or a law firm, don’t be shy to ask specific questions. Don’t be afraid to ask how many cases have they taken to trial, what their role in the trial was, and if they ever handled cases similar to yours.

Also make sure to find out exactly which lawyer will handle your case, if you’re dealing with a law firm, because while some firms might indeed have experienced trial-lawyers, a different lawyer or a team might be assigned to yours.

After that, you can check local court records where you can confirm your lawyer’s court appearances and their active role in them. State bar websites are another great place where you can look up your lawyer’s disciplinary record, and a simple internet search might come up with additional information including articles, client reviews, case records, potential professional awards, and other useful insight that can help evaluate their experience and track record, giving you a more complete picture.

Conclusion

One of the best ways of ensuring a favourable outcome after an incident resulting in a personal injury in Arizona for the injured party is having a trial-ready personal injury lawyer. Just appearing with a reputable one, who has the case prepared and who has in the past demonstrated a willingness to take the insurer to court, and the ability to win the case, can oftentimes lead to a fair, outside-the-courtroom, settlement.

Considering all the stress and trauma that usually accompany personal injuries, having a reputable trial-ready lawyer can be invaluable, letting you focus on your recovery while having the peace of mind in knowing that your case will be handled in the best way possible.