Missouri Offer of Judgment — Personal Injury: A Detailed Description In the realm of personal injury law, the Missouri Offer of Judgment plays a significant role in settling legal disputes. It refers to a legal mechanism that allows either party involved in a personal injury case to make an offer to the opposing party for the purpose of settling the lawsuit. This offer is intended to incentivize the parties to reach an agreement and avoid a time-consuming and costly trial. The Missouri Offer of Judgment is governed by Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 510.263, which outlines its requirements and procedures. It provides parties with a formal way to propose a financial settlement by submitting an offer in writing to the opposing party. This offer typically includes a specific sum of money that the offering party is willing to accept or pay to resolve the case. The main goal of the Missouri Offer of Judgment is to promote settlement negotiations between the parties involved in a personal injury lawsuit. It aims to encourage parties to seriously consider the settlement offer by introducing potential consequences should the recipient fail to accept the offer. These consequences can significantly impact the final judgment or verdict. Different Types of Missouri Offer of Judgment — Personal Injury: 1. Plaintiff's Offer of Judgment: This type of offer is made by the injured party (the plaintiff) to the defendant. It proposes a specific amount of money that the plaintiff is willing to accept in order to settle the case. If the defendant rejects this offer and the final judgment awarded to the plaintiff exceeds the offered amount, the defendant may be liable for certain additional costs and fees. 2. Defendant's Offer of Judgment: In contrast to the plaintiff's offer, the defendant can also make an offer to the plaintiff. This offer suggests a particular sum of money that the defendant is willing to pay to settle the case. If the plaintiff refuses this offer and the final judgment does not exceed the offered amount, then the plaintiff may be required to pay the defendant's costs and fees incurred after the offer was made. The Missouri Offer of Judgment — Personal Injury is an important tool that encourages both parties to evaluate settlement options seriously. By considering the potential consequences of rejecting a reasonable offer, it can motivate parties to engage in productive negotiations and resolve personal injury cases without the need for a trial.