Do I actually have to sue to get compensation for an accident?

Not necessarily. In a large number of personal injury lawsuits, cases are settled before a lawsuit is even filed. Other cases, with lawsuits filed, are often settled out-of-court before going in front of a judge. In fact, in less than 20 percent of all personal injury cases is filing a suit necessary. Often defendant insurance companies are anxious to settle rather than take a chance on going to court and having a judge or jury hand down a much greater award than they want to pay.