What happens if I can't reach a settlement in my case?

If you cannot reach a settlement in your personal injury case in Washington, it usually means that your case will be taken to court. This can involve a lot of paperwork, as well as numerous court appearances. If a personal injury case is not settled out of court, the parties involved must file a lawsuit, and the case will then be heard in a court of law. The party filing the lawsuit (known as the plaintiff) will have to provide evidence that their injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, and the opposing party (called the defendant) must respond accordingly. Depending on the case, this may involve filing a written response, attending a deposition where each side presents evidence, and more. If the case goes to trial, both sides present their evidence and witnesses before a jury, and the jury will then decide in favor of one side or the other. If the jury decides for the plaintiff, the defendant is required to pay a certain amount of money to the plaintiff based on the evidence that was presented. The court may also order additional damages, such as punitive damages, to the plaintiff. If the jury decides in favor of the defendant, then the plaintiff will not receive any money. In either situation, it is possible to appeal the court’s decision to a higher court if one side believes the decision was not fair. No matter what happens, a personal injury lawyer can help guide you through the process and do their best to ensure that the outcome of your case is in your favor.

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What happens if I can't reach a settlement in my case?

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