A: An arbitration is an alternative resolution to a trial. Parties in a civil injury lawsuit who agree to an arbitration will jointly hire an arbitrator who will decide the case just as a judge or jury would. It is a private hearing where both sides will present an abbreviated version of their cases, including expert testimony by way of written reports.
Usually, experts who would ordinarily be required to testify at trial, will not be present at an arbitration. Instead, written reports prepared by experts are often used in the arbitration. This is one reason why an arbitration is a preferred method of resolving an accident and injury case, especially considering that trials are increasingly costly due to expert testimony costs which can run upwards of $10,000 to $20,000. However, each case is unique and therefore, an arbitration might not be as effective as trial.
Depending on the type of accident case and the complexity of the issues, an arbitration takes roughly 2-4 hours. Most parties will only agree to a binding arbitration, which acts like a final judgement. The parties will not be able to appeal a decision in a binding arbitration. This is another benefit of an arbitration. Click here to learn more about resolving a Philadelphia personal injury and accident lawsuit.
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- Investigation of Accident & Injury Lawsuits in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Filing an Accident or Injury Lawsuit in Philadelphia – What to Expect (Part 1)
- Discovery in an Accident or Injury Lawsuit in Philadelphia – What to Expect (Part 2)
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