The situation with lawsuits in the United States is a peculiar one. On the one hand, it’s borderline impossible to get compensated for an accident without going through those legal channels, and on the other, some people tend to feel morally wrong for pursuing the other party with an aggressive lawsuit. The truth is, both sides have a point, and the important thing that sets them apart is context. You need to learn to recognize when you actually have a valid claim in an injury case, and when you’re pushing things too far.
Insurance Isn’t Always Helpful
One case where a lawsuit is inevitable is when dealing with an unhelpful – or completely non-existent – insurance company. You don’t really have any other recourse to get compensated in that case, and if you don’t file a lawsuit against the other party yourself, nobody is going to do it for you. A good personal injury lawyer Chicago or anywhere else, should be able to lay out the case in a manner that makes it clear who was at fault and why you are right to demand compensation, and they can do this much more reliably than you ever could, simply because they know how the system works.
Malice Can Be Hard to Spot
You may also err against the idea of filing a lawsuit because you feel pity for the other party. It’s not rare to realize that a person never meant you any harm when they got into that accident in the first place, and this can completely change the context of dealing with them. Unfortunately, many irresponsible people out there know this very well, and they frequently exploit this knowledge when dealing with the legal system. Don’t let your feelings get the best of you because once you’ve decided to withdraw from the case, there’s not much you can do to get back.
Don’t Set the Wrong Precedent
Another point to consider that may have strong long-term implications is that deciding against pursuing an incident in court might set the wrong precedent for you in the future, in situations where the incident has the risk of repeating. Courts don’t look at cases in an isolated manner, but rather in the context of both sides’ legal past, so take this into account before you decide that trying to win in court is not a good option. Your lawyer – if they’re a good one in the first place – will likely give you the same advice, and it’s a good idea to listen.
Remember, feeling conflicted about pursuing a case in court is normal. It means you’re a good human being. Just make sure that you don’t let your feelings get the best of you and always know what your rights are and how to defend them. The rest comes down to finding a good attorney who can guide you through the process from start to finish and have all your facts straight before you even get in touch with them.