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How Often Do Car Accident Personal Injury Cases Go to Trial?

It is true that most lawsuits that are filed in California do not go to trial. In fact, nine out of ten cases are resolved without anyone setting foot in a courtroom. However, this is a general statistic and the specifics of any case will vary based on the type of claim being filed, who is involved, and the available evidence.

While every case is different, one thing is true: If you are injured in a car accident then you should contact a personal injury attorney for a free legal consultation.

A closer look at specific statistics

To get a better idea, let us look at car accident cases that involve more than $25,000 in damages. In California, there are more than 30,000 of these cases each year. The courts see about 700 major motor vehicle cases per year and those cases are about evenly split between jury and bench trials. What does this mean? It means that about 2% of car accident cases filed in California end up at trial.

It can vary by region as well. For example, less than 1% of cases in Contra Cost County go to trail while nearly 6% of car accident cases in Sacramento County go to trial. That said, overall the average is about 2% in the state.

It is more difficult to track less expensive accidents

The state does not track statistics for accidents with less than $25,000 in damages. These are known as “limited civil” cases. The state also does not track accident cases that end up in and are resolved in small claims court. Those accidents include damages of less than $10,000 and there are no attorneys present.

However, the state does offer statistics for the combined number of those cases. For a limited civil case, about an average of 8% when to trail. Around 98% of those were judge trials with only about 2% jury trials. 57% of small claims cases go to trial.

What happens to cases that do not go to trial?

If you are involved in an accident and file a personal injury lawsuit, there is a very good chance that your case will not go to trial. Cases can be dismissed due to the statute of limitations being expired. Cases can be resolved if both sides can agree on a settlement, which results in the case being dismissed.

If you have grounds for a personal injury case then this information should impart one piece of knowledge: It is essential to work with an attorney who is not just good at trial but is also a skilled negotiator. Since, statistically, chances are good that you will not end up at trial, you want an attorney who will fight for you from the first contact with the defendant and their attorney. To talk to such an attorney, call 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation with Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas.