Video Settlement Documentary

Most lawsuits filed never go to trial; they will settle out of court prior to trial. This is where the power of video really shines. Normally presented by the plaintiff in a wrongful death or personal injury case, a Video Settlement Documentary (Video Settlement Brochure) is a hard hitting summation of the case. A personal injury documentary will emphasize continued living difficulties for the injured and their family, while a wrongful death Video Settlement Documentary will focus on the impact the death has had on the survivors.

Unlike a Day-in the-Life Video, a Video Settlement Documentary is not prepared to be presented in court as evidence. The purpose is to get the defense and insurance company to fully comprehend the pain and suffering that has resulted from their negligence, malpractice, or product liability.  It is produced specifically to show the strength of the case and impress upon the defense that there isn’t a chance to win the case if it goes to trial. 

It is very important to hire someone that has graphic design experience and non-linear video editing experience. Just turn on your TV tonight, watch some commercials, and see if you can't tell which were done by experienced professionals and which were not. Graphics, text and logos are important parts of good video production. Everything that crosses the screen should work together. It takes experience to produce those kinds of results; Certified Court Video has that experience.   

The Video Settlement Documentary is the proper way to demonstrate non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, mental anguish and human tragedy. It also demonstrates the loss to a family and the need for future care and medical needs, and it clarifies to insurance adjusters why they shouldn’t waste their time and money going to trial.  

A written settlement brochure lacks the emotion of the case. It can be compared to reading accounts of the War in Iraq in the newspaper or watching video stories on the evening news, same information...different impact.

A finished Video Settlement Documentary varies in length but, typically resembles a television news documentary and runs 5-20 minutes. The attorney decides what information is best to present for settlement leverage and should determine the direction and emphasis of the tape.

The pieces used in the Video Settlement Documentary can be enhanced and sequenced together with background music, professional narration and family/friend voice-overs.  Emotional displays, insinuations, accusations, leading witnesses or playing on the sympathies of the jury would never be allowed in trials. Since a Video Settlement Documentary is not actually used in court or seen by a jury, many persuasive useful images that would not be allowed in a courtroom are fair game. 

Costs can vary greatly depending on the content used. An interview with a high school coach in Edmond would cost less to produce than if the coach was in England. Post production will constitute the majority of the cost as it can consist of script writing, editing, professional voice-overs, background music, professional graphics and other creative special effects. 

A Video Settlement Documentary can benefit the attorneys client by getting a higher and prompt settlement that could save months or even years of litigation time. It could also allow the attorney to handle more cases, thereby helping more people. A Video Settlement Documentary could be a very wise investment to assist in winning your client’s case.