Don't be afraid to ask. You may be surprised! The overwhelming majority of
cases, especially smaller ones it seems, are settled before trial. The result
is that many "trial lawyers" have spent shockingly little time in
the courtroom.
An out-of-court settlement is usually much better for the client than a trial,
which introduces stress, risks, and expenses. However, if the other side is
adamant or unreasonable, it is important to know that your attorney does have
the experience to capably present your case to an impartial jury and achieve
the result you deserve.
Sometimes you need to convince the insurance company that you are willing to
take your case to trial in order to obtain a fair settlement. That threat is
much more credible if it comes from an attorney whom the insurance company
knows has a good record of previous trial success.
One of the requirements to become a board certified civil trial lawyer is significant
demonstrated actual courtroom experience in civil trial cases. Insist on it.