It takes more than a quick insurance claim or settlement to resolve some car accident cases. Oftentimes a personal injury lawsuit needs to be filed in civil court, if only to jump-start the settlement negotiation process. If your case does end up in court -- whether just long enough for a few documents to be filed, or all the way to a civil trial -- this section tells you what to expect at every step of the lawsuit process. We'll also take a look at how arbitration, mediation, and small claims court can be utilized to resolve a car accident case.