Mediation is an alternative to a jury trial that can save time and legal fees. The auto accident attorneys at Lipkin & Apter have worked with clients throughout the state of Illinois to obtain fair and reasonable compensation, through both mediation and trial settlements. Learn more about this auto accident case that resulted in a large settlement for a Lipkin & Apter client through mediation.
The car accident attorneys at Lipkin & Apter were referred P.L., a 25 year-old woman involved in a car accident, by another Chicago attorney. P.L. had been rear-ended at a red light by a semi-tractor trailer traveling at a slow rate of speed. While her car was totaled, P.L. seemed to escape serious injury. She was diagnosed with what is referred to as a "soft tissue injury” meaning she suffered no broken bones, no herniated spinal discs, and no torn ligaments or tendons requiring surgery. Following the auto accident, P.L. experienced pain in her neck, shoulders and low back. The pain was not constant but shifted over time from one part of her body to another and at different levels of severity. P.L. received ongoing medical treatment for nearly two years consisting of physical therapy and three epidural steroid injections. Throughout this time, she was able to continue with her regular work and recreational activities, though sometimes at a reduced level.
When the defendant’s trucking company suggested to mediate this case, we accepted. Mediation is an alternative to a jury trial. It is a process where the parties submit documents to a retired judge who attempts to resolve the case by reviewing the evidence the parties submit and speaking with the parties individually. The benefits of mediation are its speed - generally a few hours - as opposed to a jury trial, which could run several days or weeks, and reduced costs as compared to trial.
The car accident attorneys at Lipkin & Apter successfully guided P.L. through the mediation process for her personal injury case and obtained a favorable settlement of her case in the amount of $170,000.00. For more information on how we may be able to help you, please contact our lawyers to schedule a free consultation.