There are many ways to settle a legal issue, including going to court. While this might be the option that you are most familiar with, there are also other paths that you can take when trying to resolve a claim. Alternative dispute resolutions like mediation are often great alternatives to taking things straight to court.
When can I use mediation?
In Texas, you can use mediation for a wide variety of legal disputes. This is in part due to how flexible the process is, as it simply involves two parties negotiating a resolution under the guidance of a third-party mediator. Mediation can be useful in some of the following cases:
- Auto accident defense
- Insurance litigation
- Medical malpractice
- Premises liability
- Product liability
- Professional liability
- Workplace injuries
Mediation for non-subscriber claims
If you are a non-subscriber employer in Texas, mediation can be a great option for dealing with work injury claims. Going to court for these types of claims is often expensive and time consuming — two things you do not have much extra of if you are busy running a business. Mediation can also be helpful if you are interested in making sure you fully understand the extent of your worker’s injuries, as this can be helpful for implementing new safety protocols in the workplace.
The idea of mediation can be overwhelming at first. Like many people in Texas, you might not have much experience negotiating. The good news is that you do not have to be an experienced negotiator to navigate the mediation process. The role of the mediator is to guide both parties through the process, and you can also bring your own representation to help ensure that your rights are respected and upheld.