Many Buffalo personal injury lawsuits are resolved through arbitration instead of going to trial. In basic terms, arbitration is a hearing, conducted in a manner similar to a trial but less formal, where the outcome of the personal injury case will be determined. Because it utilizes less formal rules than those required at trial (for example, medical reports may be admitted as evidence instead of doctors being required to testify), it is often a more cost effective manner of resolving a lawsuit.
In New York State, Arbitration hearings in personal injury cases are conducted before either one or three arbitrators who will decide the outcome of the case. Arbitrators are typically lawyers who have received special training in arbitrating cases. In cases decided by a single arbitrator, the arbitrator is usually a person who the parties mutually agree upon to hear the case.
When personal injury arbitrations take place before a panel of three arbitrators, the method by which the arbitrators are chosen may be different. Sometimes the arbitrators are three individuals who the parties mutually agree upon to hear the case. In other cases, each party may choose one arbitrator without the input of the other party. These two arbitrators then agree between themselves who will be the third arbitrator.
If you have suffered a personal injury and have any questions regarding this topic, please feel free to call my office at 716-542-5444.
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