| It is abundant in our society correct, and | | | | the parties because a bargain has been |
| despite having all the possible ways of | | | | arrived at peacefully. Another is that it |
| avoiding such occurrence still being | | | | saves money on the part of the antagonists in |
| inevitable it could not actually be avoided. | | | | the dispute particularly in going through the |
| Accidents happening on the highways, or any | | | | tedious process of filing causes of action in |
| place of transport for that matter, have been | | | | our courts. It is also a testimony of the |
| so rampant. In fact our courts of law have | | | | rational being of man, that disputes or |
| been clogged with so many claims involving | | | | controversies may be resolved without |
| vehicle accidents that our bench has made it | | | | adversarial proceedings in our courts of law. |
| a point that before these cases would be | | | | Finally, it would save precious time and |
| elevated to them, all efforts to settle the | | | | effort for our judges, that would be utilized |
| same must first be exhausted. | | | | to ponder on more pressing issues and more |
| | | | complex cases. |
| There are several modes of settling a claim | | | | |
| for negligence resulting to physical | | | | A long and winding road indeed, but at the |
| disability or damage to property. This may | | | | end of the day when everything has fallen |
| include but is not limited to, mediation, | | | | into their own proper places and a settlement |
| arbitration, settlement, or the ordinary | | | | has been arrived at, at least it was not an |
| bargain. These modes are all extra-judicial, | | | | effort in futility. The parties having |
| meaning that they are means of finding a | | | | learned their lessons from such occurrence, |
| solution to erring claims without resort to | | | | proper restitution has been made, a chance to |
| our courts of law. These has been viewed in a | | | | change has been given another, and a day in |
| positive light by magistrates, the fact that | | | | court has been saved, these are merely some |
| finding a common ground and answering a | | | | benefits that an extra-judicial settlement |
| dispute without any taxing and rigorous court | | | | may provide. As the old proverb goes, clearer |
| battle has been the lineage for the past | | | | minds prevail and adversarial court |
| decade or so. | | | | proceedings are no longer warranted for such |
| | | | types of claim. Peace of mind, clarity of |
| Extra-judicial modes of settling disputes | | | | senses, and repentance for a wrong done, are |
| have several advantages, it actually prevents | | | | the principles upon which extra-judicial |
| the further severance of the relationship of | | | | settlements are actually based. |