‘Your case is in litigation’ sounds like a trial announcement. It isn’t — litigation is the whole formal process from filing onward, and most litigated injury cases still settle. Here’s the vocabulary, demystified.
- Litigation = the process: filing, discovery, motions, and trial preparation — trial is its last stop, reached by a small minority.
- Why claims enter litigation: disputed fault, undervalued injuries, or an insurer that only moves under court deadlines — filing is leverage and access to compelled evidence, not aggression.
- What changes for you: formal obligations (discovery responses, a deposition) and a court timetable — with settlement possible at literally every stage, including trial’s doorstep in the First Judicial District’s programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
My lawyer wants to file suit. Does that mean negotiation failed?
It means negotiation needs leverage — filed cases settle at better numbers precisely because trial became real. It’s escalation in your interest, not a breakdown.
Is litigation expensive for me personally?
Costs are advanced under contingency representation per the fee agreement — litigation raises case costs, which is exactly why the decision to file is made strategically with you.
What does hiring you cost?
No attorney’s fee unless we recover; percentage and cost handling are in the written fee agreement. Consultations are free.
Questions about your situation? Call (215) 464-4600 or contact us online — free, confidential consultations, contingency-fee representation.