In the city of Denver, Colorado most personal injury cases never make it to courtroom. In other words, they settle before even getting in front of the judge. This tendency is understandable when you consider the difficulties involved in holding a legal action in court, from the financial costs to the extensive periods of time that are necessary to finalize a trial. In most cases, both parties are reluctant to take a personal injury claim to court, because they fear that the jury will rule against them. This is why many top Denver injury law firms advise their clients to accept participation in mediation.
Mediation is an alternative method of settling a personal injury dispute. The two sides accept the mediation of a third party, the mediator. The mediator can be someone appointed by the court or a professional accepted by the insurance company. Usually, mediators are former attorneys or judges who have extensive legal knowledge, which helps them to properly asses a personal injury claim case and advise the two parties on the best way to reach a compromise.
Mediations are less formal proceedings than trial appearances, but as a plaintiff involved in a personal injury case, you should coordinate with your Denver accident lawyer in order to be prepared for the mediation process.
Mediations can take place with the presence of the involved parties, represented by Denver injury law firms, or they can take place without an actual meeting between the two sides. In this case, the mediator will act as a liaison between your Denver injury lawyer and the lawyer of the defendant, carrying the demands and the responses between the two sides.
Mediations have the advantage of being cheaper and quicker than civil trials although complicated cases may require a long time to settle. The aim of the mediation procedure is to reach an agreement between the two sides, effectively creating a compromise between the demands of the plaintiff and the interests of the defendant. The mediator will make sure that the two sides accurately present their side of the story and provide arguments for their cause. If everything goes well and the two sides arrive at a compromise, the mediator records the result of the mediation, which becomes a legally binding document for the two parties.
Mediations are sometimes ordered by a judge, but this doesnt mean that it is compulsory for the two parties to reach an agreement. You can always consult with your Denver accident lawyer if you should continue with the mediation or if you should take your case to the court. Nevertheless, you should always consider participating in mediation, even if you are sure that your case is strong enough to win a court trial.