If I hire an attorney, does that mean my case is going to court?

No. In fact, the vast majority of personal injury cases settle before a judge or jury reaches a verdict. Many of these cases are settled before the trial even begins. However, some settlements are not offered until after the trial is in progress. While this is true for most cases, approximately 5% of personal injury cases will, in fact, get to trial. Your attorney should be experienced and comfortable with both settlement negotiations and litigation.