Taking New York City Personal Injury Claims Online: Let's Cybersettle!
When it comes to settling personal injury claims, the city of New York has been going online since 2004. Specifically, the city has tested and used an online system by the name of Cybersettle in that period to handle various personal injuries suffered on city property.
With that said, the city recently announced that it has re-upped with Cybersettle for three more years and will expand the personal injury case areas covered to medical practice, personal property damage and subrogation claims. The city had originally used Cybersettle to primarily handle New York personal injury claims pertaining to sidewalk, school, roadway and motor vehicle accident injuries.
So how does Cybersettle exactly work? Basically, the Cybersettle format allows the city and the plaintiff to submit confidential offers and demands online. Under Cybersettle, New York City personal injury cases are settled when the demand is less than the city's offer. In those instances in which the city's offer and the plaintiff's demands are within a specific range, Cybersettle splits the difference and automatically settles the personal injury claim.
As for New York City personal injury claims in which the city's financial offer does not meet the monetary demands of the battle, Cybersettle provides the option of another round of bidding.
This multiple bidding option has not been without controversy and was actually questioned in the recent case of Cybersettle v. National Arbitration Forum, 1092-07. At the end of July, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that Cybersettle's patent protects its forum for allowing additional bidding rounds when personal injury claims are not initially settled.
Under the new agreement with New York City, Cybersettle will also be creating a claims system for consumers to learn how to file a personal injury claim, access downloadable forms and receive general assistance in the wake of a personal injury or incident.
New York first initiated the Cybersettle test program as a means to cut through a backlog of personal injury claims and to reduce the costs of personal injury lawsuits to the city and its taxpayers. In a two-year trial period, Cybersettle allegedly resulted in personal injury settlements in 67 percent of the cases. The pilot program was also estimated to saving taxpayers more than $2 million.
In a day and age in which the Internet is becoming the standard means for communication, it is hardly surprising that something like Cybersettle would be created and used to settle personal injury claims.
And while Cybersettle offers an innovative means to settle disputes, plaintiffs should not be under the impression that they shouldn't seek legal advice after suffering a personal injury.
Contacting a personal injury attorney in your area is the smart way to examine the situation surrounding your injuries in more detail and to assess what may be next. If a personal injury claim does exist, a personal injury lawyer may then give you an idea of personal injury case worth.
If you've suffered a personal injury because of someone else's negligence and need to speak with a personal injury attorney in your area, don't delay. Fill out our free personal injury case evaluation form or call 877-288-7564, and we'll help you get in touch with one of our sponsoring personal injury attorneys near where you live. Sponsoring personal injury lawyers can answer your questions and provide the information you need to proceed.