Most legal claims that arise from injuries caused by accidents in New York never get to the stage of a trial in a civil court. This is because the parties involved in the litigation decide to resolve their conflict by negotiating a settlement. Typically, in such settlements, the person who files the lawsuit, called the plaintiff, accepts an agreed-upon monetary compensation from either the defendant, or an insurance provider. In exchange, the plaintiff has to surrender their right to undertake any legal action in connection with the concerned injury or accident.