A settlement is an agreement. The insurance company pays an agreed amount, and you release your claim in exchange. A trial puts the decision in the hands of a judge or jury, who hear the evidence and decide what your case is worth.
Each road has trade-offs:
- Settlement offers certainty, privacy, and a faster resolution, with no risk of an appeal.
- Trial could produce a higher result when an insurer refuses to be fair, but it takes longer and carries real risk.
Most Michigan cases settle, often after case evaluation, a court process where a panel of three attorneys reviews the claim and recommends a value. Many courts also order facilitative mediation before trial.