A lot of people do not take minor accidents quite seriously and do not think that their energy is worth putting on a legal battle. But when it comes to serious matters like compensation, the Small Claims Court can play an important role.
This can help in providing a streamlined approach towards avenues of compensation. Now, different jurisdictions have different monetary limits set for cases in the Small Claims Court. So, before approaching that option, it is best to ensure that the claim does not exceed this amount.
A car accident lawyer knows all the details and can help you properly when you hire them. It all depends on the nature of the claim, as small claims court only deals with property cases and minor injuries.
What is Considered a Minor Accident?
Now the term minor accidents can be considered as a very subjective term that is thought to have different meanings. But when it comes to the Small Claims Courts it all depends on the monetary value and also the nature of the injury and the damages that occurred.
The monetary limits can vary depending on different states and their jurisdictions. Also, minor accidents often look like:
Personal Item Injury: This can include the items that were present in the car at the time of the accidents. It can be damaged glasses or a broken mobile phone.
Minute Vehicle Damage: Minimal damage includes any kind of scratch, a dent, or any kind of minor damage that occurs to the vehicle. This usually is a kind of damage that does not impact the functionality aspect of the vehicle.
A personal injury lawyer will be there to help you out in this matter as their knowledge of such matters is spot-on.
Minor Hitting: Accidents that end up causing you minor injuries like you hitting yourself on a fence or a mailbox.
Physical Injuries: When it comes to injuries, the number one talked about is the whiplash or bruises, and some sprains that come as a result of an accident.
How to File a Small Claims Court Case?
When it comes to Small Claims Court in minor cases, before routing for the court, the documentation process has to be the best that differentiates a successful claim from a rejected case.
After that, it is best to check and determine the amount of compensation that is in total. With that, you will have to fill out all the forms that are provided to you by the court. You can fill them in and pay the fee.
After this, the court will schedule a hearing for the case. On the hearing day, you will be presenting your case. At this time the other party will be defending themselves as you present the evidence and the documentation.
What Happens After Judgment?
The navigation process through the Small Claims Court does not stop at the judgment. The phase that comes after the judgment is equally tricky to deal with.
Make sure that when you get the judgment from the court, it is in written form. This is the record that is often needed in the future. If you are the one who has to make the payments, try and do that as soon as you can.
If you are the one winning the case, then you should simply reach out to the other party and discuss the terms on which the payments will be made. If in any case, the other party is not willing to make you the payment, you can go back to court again and they can seize some property or assets of the opposing party of the debtor to be fair to the judgment.
When can you Opt for Mediation?
Mediation is one of the paths taken by people when they are trying to fix a small claim. It is usually opted for by people as it is cost-effective and is a much more efficient way to save yourself from visiting every single day.
Mediation offers a very flexible approach that is completely opposite to the traditional legal methods. The mediation sessions also being private can help in keeping the opinions of both parties confidential.
So, you can consider taking the route of mediation as soon as the dispute arises. It is always encouraged to opt for it as soon as you can. This saves you from further escalating the matters and reaching a conclusion as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Whenever the journey of the small claims court is discussed, it is known to have many sides to it. Getting a judgment out of minor cases sometimes can get really difficult. Whether it is your right to collect the compensation amount or pay the other party, make sure that you stay fair and fight the case with dignity.
