Mediation is gaining popularity as a preferred method of settling personal injury claims. If you feel that you and your insurance adjuster have reached an impasse, whereby you are not willing to agree to a lower compensation amount and they are unwilling to pay out a higher amount, mediation may be a good option for you. Continue reading to learn more about this process, and contact a personal injury lawyer at Heuser & Heuser if you decide you are in need of a mediator.
What is Mediation?
Mediation consists of the parties involved in a dispute meeting with a third party mediator to help them resolve their conflict. It’s a voluntary, informal meeting where neither side needs to worry that what they say will be used against them in the future if they don’t come to a resolution in the meeting. There are no special rules for how the cases are presented, and neither side needs any additional training or paperwork other than what is already in the case file.
During the meeting, each side first presents its case to the mediator in front of the other party. The parties then discuss their cases with one another in the mediator’s presence. Lastly, each side has a chance to speak alone with the mediator. The mediator then uses all the information they have been given to come up with a possible solution that is agreeable to both sides. If the mediator is successful, the case is settled. If they are unsuccessful, the case returns to its same stage prior to the meeting.
Why Choose Mediation?
In cases where you and your insurance adjuster cannot come to an agreement, mediation can end up being much easier, quicker and even cheaper option than taking your case to court. Generally, you and the other party split the cost of hiring the mediator, and, as stated previously, mediation meetings require no additional experience or documentation.
You are also much more likely to become more sympathetic in the eyes of your insurance adjuster when you are sitting directly across from them in your meeting. Meeting with your adjuster directly allows them to see you as a person rather than just another case file on their desk. This can lead to a more favorable settlement agreement for you.
Possible Obstacles to Mediation
If you end up coming to an amicable settlement during mediation, it can be much cheaper than going to court. However, if you are unable to reach an agreement, you still pay the mediator for their time and services, and you’ll still need to pay to go to court later on.
It can also be difficult to schedule the meeting since there are at least three different people with varying schedules who need to coordinate a set time and date to meet. The extra work it takes for the insurance adjuster to meet up in person can also deter them from wanting to use a mediator.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you need help mediating your claim, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Heuser & Heuser to represent you. Our lawyers are trained to deal with insurance companies and to resolve conflict, so let us help you get the compensation you deserve.
