Episode Summary:
In this episode, James Sadigh breaks down the decision-making process behind settling a personal injury case versus taking it to trial. With over 35 years of experience, James explains how cases evolve unexpectedly, the hidden costs and risks of litigation, jury unpredictability, mediation strategies, and why only 5-10% of cases ever reach a courtroom. He shares real-world insights on managing client expectations, ethical considerations, and the power of understanding both sides of the claim.
Key Timestamps:
00:01 - Show Introduction
00:20 - Assessing Case Trajectory at Intake
01:15 - Soft Tissue vs. Severe Injury Outcomes
02:30 - Case Example: Wife Improves, Husband Needs Surgery
04:00 - Why Most Cases Settle (Insurance Recognition of Trial Readiness)
05:00 - Reasons to Recommend Settlement (Cost, Jury Risk, Time)
06:30 - Groucho Marx Jury Joke & Juror Prejudices
08:00 - Litigation Costs: Depositions, Experts, Court Fees
10:00 - When to Reject Settlement & Go to Trial
11:30 - Client Decision-Making: Principle vs. Practicality
13:00 - Misconceptions from TV/Movies About Trials
14:00 - Settlement Statistics: 50% Pre-Litigation, 65-70% During Litigation
15:00 - Mediation Explained: Purpose, Selection, Effectiveness
17:00 - Confidentiality in Mediation & Settlement Talks
18:00 - Employment Case Example: $1M Demand Settled for $100K + Apology
19:30 - Closing & Call to Action
About the Show:
"The Ethical Advocate for Accidents" delivers honest, no-nonsense guidance for Californians injured in accidents. James Sadigh brings over 35 years of personal injury experience to help listeners understand their rights, avoid common pitfalls, and find representation that truly puts clients first.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.