3 Reasons Not to Settle When You Are Sued for a Car Accident

 Posted on October 27, 2024 in Insurance Defense & Coverage

Even a very skilled and attentive driver can get into a car accident. Anyone can be accused of causing an accident he or she was involved in. People who have been injured in a car crash often need to blame someone for a myriad of reasons. From a practical standpoint, the person suing you may not have good insurance and needs to find a way to pay his medical bills. Other people seem to believe they are perfect drivers and could only have gotten into an accident if the other person did something wrong. Some people simply cannot accept that the accident happened due to reasons beyond either party’s control. Just because you are being sued does not mean that you have to settle. An experienced DuPage County, IL car accident litigation attorney can help you fight back.

A Third Party Was at Fault

Say an SUV swerved out of its lane and bumped your rear tire, causing you to lose control and hit a car, injuring its driver. The SUV speeds off and disappears at the next exit. The car’s driver is suing you, claiming that you swerved because you were illegally texting. She did not see the SUV hit you. In this case, your lawyer can try to find evidence showing that the SUV did hit you and that you could not have prevented the collision.

There is Little Evidence That You Were at Fault

If your case were to go to court, the plaintiff claiming that she had the green light and yours was red might not be enough to convince the court that you were at fault if there is no evidence backing up her claim. Depending on the circumstances, the court may be just as likely or even more likely to believe your account when you say you had a green light. By settling this type of case, you may be unnecessarily accepting liability.

The Plaintiff is Asking Too Much

Even if the evidence against you is strong and you will likely be found liable no matter what, it may still be worth going to court to have a judge decide how much the plaintiff is owed. Suppose the plaintiff is demanding a clearly excessive amount - such as compensation for total and permanent disability when she only suffered a broken arm that is expected to fully heal - and is refusing your more reasonable offers. In that case, you may need a court to determine how much the plaintiff should be awarded.

Contact a DuPage County, IL Car Accident Defense Lawyer 

The experienced Lisle, IL personal injury attorneys at SpyratosDavis LLC create smart defense strategies for people facing lawsuits after motor vehicle collisions. We are skilled litigators and always prepared to see a case through at trial. Contact us at 630-810-8881 for a confidential consultation.