Filing a personal injury lawsuit is a great option for many people. If you have been in an accident, or have been wronged in some way, you may be wondering if filling a lawsuit is the right thing for you. Not every situation merits a personal injury lawsuit. In fact, there are some situations where filing a lawsuit is not recommended. Here are some times when you shouldn't file a personal injury lawsuit.
1. The Insurance Company Gave You A Decent Payout
The first thing you should do when you have been in any accident is file an insurance claim. You can either file with your own insurance or with the other party's insurance provider, depending on the nature of the accident. In many cases the insurance will honor your claim and give you the money that you deserve. They may not give you every penny that you think you deserve, but so long as it is a decent payout and you get money to cover your losses, that should be enough.
Recognize that when you file a personal injury lawsuit you will have to pay a good deal in legal fees. So if the insurance is willing to give you a payout and you can avoid paying legal fees, even if the payout isn't exactly what you wanted, it still may be the better option financially.
2. The Losses Were Small
Second, it is important to be realistic about a lawsuit. There is going to be a great deal of time and money going into taking legal action, so you need to be sure that the lawsuit is worth it financially. For example, if you have a loss of property of a thousand dollars, you wouldn't want to file a lawsuit. You will pay that much and more in legal fees. Additionally, an attorney may not even take your case if it is too small.
3. You Want To Punish The Other Party
Lastly, lawsuits should be driven by financial decisions, not a personal decision. Think of a lawsuit as strictly business. Make these decisions as you would decisions about a dispassionate business venture. If you try to use the lawsuit to punish another person, it will only backfire on you, and no matter the outcome, even if you get a good payout, there is still a good chance it won't be enough.
By understanding that there are some instances where you shouldn't file a lawsuit, you can protect yourself from bad legal decisions.
