Personal Injury Lawyer in Savannah Explains the Difference Between a Personal Injury Settlement and Verdict

The Brown Firm in Savannah, GA, has explained the difference between a personal injury settlement and verdict in a newly published blog post. A person who has been injured as a result of someone's else negligent conduct, whether intentional or not, has grounds for making a claim against the negligent party. This claim can be resolved through a settlement or a verdict. The article explains that a settlement is an out-of-court agreement where the two parties reach an agreement without completing the legal proceedings. Even if the injured party had filed a lawsuit against the defendant, a settlement might still be achieved if the parties can reach a negotiated agreement.

On the other hand, a personal injury verdict is a decision or judgment reached by a jury or judge during a trial or court proceedings. A jury will have to hear both sides of the case and then assess the evidence to decide on whether the defendant is guilty or not. This is not like a criminal trial where all the members of the jury must unanimously find the defendant guilty. In a civil case, it will just require a majority of the jurors to find the defendant guilty. And the burden of proof is not as strict as that needed for a criminal case. Instead of guilt being proven "beyond a reasonable doubt," a civil case will require a "preponderance of evidence" in favor of the plaintiff.

Harry Brown Jr., DC, JD, from The Brown Firm, an accident injury law firm in Savannah, GA, explains, "If the defendant is found guilty, the jury now has the task of determining the amount of financial compensation the defendant has to pay to the plaintiff. It's the plaintiff's legal counsel's job to show evidence of the amount of compensation that should be awarded. They do this by reviewing current and future medical expenses, lost earnings, and the emotional impact of injuries. Verdicts reached in civil court will usually result in higher payouts to plaintiffs, but this will vary depending on each case."

The settlement amounts will vary substantially from case to case as it will depend on several factors that are unique to a specific case. These factors include the level of negligence of the other party, state-based guidelines, the type and severity of the plaintiff's injuries, and the abilities of the plaintiff's attorney. The settlement amount will be determined by how a court will likely decide to award a particular amount of money to the plaintiff.

It should be noted that most injury claims are settled out of court. This is considered to be better for both parties to be able to save on both time and expense that may result from a drawn-out courtroom conflict. The injured party may discuss their options with their lawyer ahead of time to come up with a decision on whether to settle out of court or go to trial.

The Brown Firm offers a free consultation for potential clients to determine their various options and make the best possible decision. The firm's practice areas include motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, personal injury, work-related injuries, wrongful death, car accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, slips and falls, dog bites, and medical malpractice.

Former clients have been leaving highly positive reviews for the law firm. For example, Tie M. gave them five stars and said, "With my experience at The Brown Firm, the lawyers were great. Paul and Ms. Deborah kept in contact with me to keep me informed about the case weekly. They checked on me and my family even if they didn't have an update. They truly showed common concern for me and my daughter's well-being, and that meant a lot. I would recommend their firm to anyone who would want to be treated with great care and the best service…."

People in need of the services of Savannah personal injury lawyers may want to visit the website of The Brown Firm or contact them through the telephone or via email. They are open from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, from Monday to Friday.