Even if you’re dealing with your personal injury case in warm and friendly Florida, you may find yourself lost in the legal system. The unique panther habitats and the balmy Miami air contribute to a generally tranquil atmosphere. However, when your calm is disturbed as a result of anything unlucky, such as an injury or accident, you may find yourself in uncharted emotional and legal waters.
Knowing what happens after your personal injury case goes to trial will help alleviate some stress and guesswork. In such instances, arming yourself with expert advice from skilled Florida personal injury lawyers becomes crucial for achieving fair results. This blog aims at shedding light on those legal steps that follow once your personal injury case proceeds into a courtroom setting—a journey that might seem formidable but is not insurmountable with proper guidance.
Story Stages
Post-trial motions
Each side in a personal injury case has the right to file a post-trial motion after the jury has reached a verdict. Most frequently, these motions ask the court to reconsider a part of the judgment or provide further information. Punitive damages are often sought by one party but rarely awarded. It is possible for the other side to ask for an assessment as a matter of law, also called a judgment notwithstanding the verdict. They may want this if they feel the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to sustain the jury’s verdict.
Appeals
If one of the parties to a lawsuit is dissatisfied with the outcome or with how the judge or jury reached that outcome, that party may file an appeal with the Court of Appeals. Courts may have different requirements for filing an appeal, depending on the location of the action.
Collections and judgments
Once the trial is over and the conclusion is finalized (including any appeals or challenges), the losing party must begin making arrangements to compensate the winning party (the plaintiff).
Enforcement/Trials
If a debtor ignores a court order compelling payment, collection agencies have the right to take legal action against them, such as placing a lien on their bank accounts or other assets or even garnishing their wages.
Settlement Discussions
The majority of personal injury claims are settled out of court. This may happen at any time during the lawsuit process, including right before trial. Settlement offers in civil litigation may become less attractive once a judge or jury issues a verdict.
If their client is in danger of becoming bankrupt due to medical or utility obligations, the attorney can work out a payment plan with the other side. This strategy could be more expedient than filing an appeal.
Post-Trial Interviews
After a trial concludes, post-trial interviews typically occur among jury members, plaintiffs, and defendants. These interviews, often conducted by reporters or third-party sources, focus on the final decisions reached by the court regarding liability or penalty issues.
Dispute Resolution or Mediation
Before moving forward with a personal injury trial, several state courts mandate mediation between the parties involved. This is a common recommendation made by lawyers who want to save their clients money. This becomes especially important when clients propose settlements that pay far less compensation than what the judge or jury is likely to award. Sometimes, customers will receive amounts that far above their wildest dreams. Therefore, when seeking legal representation for a personal injury case, it’s essential to find a skilled lawyer who not only understands the legal process but also recognizes the potential benefits of mediation in achieving favorable outcomes.
Judgment Interest
If a court rules in favor of the plaintiff and orders the defendant to pay damages, the defendant must do so, plus interest at the standard annual rate required by law. Losses incurred due to a delay in receiving the award are compensated for by adding interest charges to the total.
Settlement Releases
Before going to trial, defendants may ask plaintiffs to sign permanent release clauses clearing them and their associates of any responsibility for the disaster. This request is being made in exchange for an agreed upon or judgment amount.
Spreading Satisfaction with Judgment
In more isolated areas, this custom reigns supreme. The party who is the subject of the order or decree disseminates information about the order or decree, either directly or indirectly. Spreading a satisfaction judgment involves contacting people inside one’s social circle through sanctioned channels, such as print media. The purpose of this approach is to penalize offenders.
