The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation

A lawyer who is specialized in the field of car accident litigation can help you determine how strong your case is and also how much your settlement could be worth. However, this is only possible when you have all the information needed.

Discovery is the initial step of a car accident case. During this stage, attorneys and their teams will exchange documents and ask questions under an oath.

Documentation

A large portion of the work that goes into a car accident case is obtaining documentation. This can include evidence like medical records, photos or witness statements. The more evidence you have the more convincing your case will become.

A law enforcement report is the first piece of paper you should have. Typically, the police officer who arrives at the scene of the crash will prepare the report, and it will give important details about how the crash occurred and who was at fault for the incident.

Your attorney may also make use of the report of a law enforcement officer to seek additional evidence, if needed. For example, if the incident occurred in a business where employees were present, the site might have recorded footage of the incident. If that's the case, the tape must be requested from the company as soon as it is possible.

It is also important to document any expenses you incurred due to the farmersville auto accident lawsuit. This could include medical bills and records for your treatment, receipts for medication, rental car fees, in-home care or assistance expenses for transportation, and much more. In addition, you should keep track of any income loss because of your injury. This can include old pay stubs, as well as tax returns.

It is also advisable to get the names of witnesses. They might be able to give valuable details, especially if can convince them to be a witness in court. It is important to remember that witnesses could alter their stories and forget details regarding the accident as time passes.

Intake and Investigation

The intake process is critical to getting fair compensation for your injuries from an accident regardless of whether you've filed an insurance claim or are suing the at-fault party. Your attorney will begin by examining your medical records, and obtaining copies of accident reports as well as other evidence. They will also visit the scene of the crash to document and observe what they can.

This information will assist them comprehend the severity of your injuries in relation to current and projected future costs for your emotional and physical suffering. They will then review your financial losses in order to estimate the value of your case. Your damages can comprise not only your current and future medical expenses, but also lost income and property damage.

Your lawyer will also investigate the incident, including speaking with witnesses and analyzing any available evidence. They will also gather information about the driving habits and cell phones of the driver at fault in order to determine if they were using their vehicle at the time. This will be especially important if the collision involved an Uber or Lyft vehicle, or any other indicator that the driver was at work, as this could negatively impact the ability of them to pay damages.

Additionally your attorney may inquire about the defendant's past criminal and traffic-related offenses in the discovery process. Generally, these details are not admissible in court, however they could be helpful to undermine the credibility of a defendant during cross examination.

The process of negotiating a settlement

After you have obtained the medical records and obtaining the medical records, your lawyer can begin negotiations on settlement. Initially, the insurance company will offer an offer which is usually significantly lower than the amount you requested in your letter. This is a way to determine how strong your argument is. In the counteroffer it is crucial to emphasize the most important arguments you have in your favor - for instance, that the insured was fully at the fault, and that you suffered severe injuries with the highest medical costs. Negotiating back and forth will eventually lead to a fair and reasonable amount.

An experienced accident lawyer can effectively argue for the merits of your case, including presenting evidence supporting your losses. This may include photos of the damage to your car, a police report and witness testimony. We also know how to determine the value of different elements of your claim, like lost income and suffering and pain.

If, at this point, the insurance company is still refusing to offer a fair amount, we can decide to make a claim in court. A trial typically lasts between one and two days and is heard either by an attorney or a jury. If your case settles prior to this stage it can take a few months. Your attorney may also be able to file a summary motion to enter judgment. This is a way of presenting all the evidence to your advantage and arguing that it's impossible for the opposing side to win.

Filing an action

In the majority of car accident cases, the parties are able to resolve their disagreement without the need for court. Our team can help you negotiate with the insurance company of the other driver or directly with the driver who was at fault. If no agreement is reached, our attorneys will file a suit against the defendant. The complaint contains your claims and allegations about the accident and the reasons why you are entitled to compensation. The defendant is served the Complaint and given a specified time frame to respond.

During the discovery phase, our attorneys will exchange documents and other materials with the defendant and ask questions through interrogatories and depositions. Our team will ask the defendant's attorney questions regarding their interpretation of the events, including what they believe happened during the crash, as well as how they think it occurred and the injuries you've suffered. We will also seek expert opinions that will support our stance.

During the process of discovery, your lawyer may submit legal documents, also known as motions to the court for a judge's ruling on. This can include requesting the judge to exclude evidence or set a trial date. It can take as long as a year for the discovery process to be completed and a trial date established. It is imperative to speak with an experienced Long Island artesia auto accident lawsuit detroit auto accident lawsuit attorney as early as you can during the process.