The Role of Arbitration in Personal Injury Cases

In many personal injury cases, the parties settle, coming to an agreement without going to court. One technique used in California to resolve disputes outside of court is arbitration, which is a form of alternative dispute resolution. In arbitration, an arbitrator hears evidence and makes a decision as to who wins the case and the amount of damages to be awarded. Arbitration is often chosen because it is usually cheaper and faster than going to trial.

An arbitrator is an impartial third party, who has no other interest in the case. The role of an arbitrator is similar to that of a judge—hearing and reviewing evidence. Arbitrators are usually experienced lawyers or retired judges.

Arbitration is similar to a trial, but less formal. Parties going to arbitration should be represented by an attorney, like they would be at trial. Before the arbitration hearing, the parties conduct discovery, deposing witnesses and collecting evidence.

The parties must attend the arbitration hearing, at which the arbitrator hears evidence. The parties and their witnesses may testify under oath, and the parties may also submit documents as evidence.

The arbitrator then reviews the evidence and decides who wins the case and determines how much will be awarded in damages. Often, the arbitrator puts the decision in writing and sends it to the parties.

The decision will either be binding or non-binding, depending on the type of arbitration. If the arbitration is binding, the arbitrator’s decision is final and is entered as a judgment, giving it the same force as a court order from a judge. However, there is generally no appeal from the award in binding arbitration.

In non-binding arbitration, either party may reject the arbitrator’s decision. If neither party rejects the decision within a set period of time after the award is made, it is entered as a judgment and becomes binding at that time.

Though arbitration is similar to a trial, there are some differences. A key difference is that the rules of evidence that apply in the courtroom do not all apply in arbitration. This means that the arbitrator may in some instances consider evidence that would not be admissible in court.

In high-low arbitration, the parties may agree on a minimum and maximum amount of damages that may be awarded. For example, the parties may set a minimum award of $10,000 and a maximum of $50,000. If the arbitrator then awards $8,000, the injured party will still get $10,000. The arbitrator is usually not informed of the high-low agreement.

Arbitration is confidential. This means that if the parties later go to trial, they may not refer to the arbitration at trial. Additionally, evidence used at arbitration may not automatically be used in the trial, but may only be used if it is otherwise admissible.

Arbitration can be a useful tool in resolving personal injury disputes. If you or a loved one is involved in a personal injury dispute, contact the San Jose personal injury attorneys at Corsiglia, McMahon & Allard, L.L.P. We are happy to help you recover the compensation you deserve.