The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation

A lawyer who is specialized in litigation involving car accidents can help you determine the strength of your case is and how the settlement might be worth. This is only possible when all the information you require is available.

The first step in a lawsuit involving a car accident is called discovery. In this phase, attorneys and their teams exchange documents and ask each other questions under an oath.

Documentation

Documentation is an integral part of the work in an accident. This can include evidence like photographs, medical records, or witness statements. The more documentation that you have the more convincing your case.

The first piece of evidence you need is a law enforcement report. The police officer who arrives at the accident scene will usually write a report. This report will provide important information about the accident and who was responsible.

Your lawyer can also make use of the report of a law enforcement officer to gather additional evidence in the event of need. For instance, if an granbury auto accident law firm happened in a business the employee who worked at that area may have recorded video footage of the incident. If that's the case, the tape must be requested from the company as soon as is possible.

Keep track of any expenses you incur in the aftermath of the kansas city auto accident lawsuit. This can include medical bills or records of treatment, receipts from medications rental car expenses for in-home assistance, care at home as well as transportation costs. Additionally, you must document any lost income as a result of your accident. You can use tax returns and pay stubs.

You should also try to obtain the names of witnesses. They might be able provide valuable details, especially if are able to have them be a witness in court. But, it's important to remember that witnesses are prone to altering their accounts over time, and could forget specific details about the incident.

Intake and Investigation

The intake process is essential to obtaining fair compensation for your accident injuries regardless of whether you've made an insurance claim or are suing the at-fault party. Your attorney will start by reviewing your medical documents, and then obtaining copies accident reports and other evidence. They will also visit the site of the crash to observe and document what they can.

This information will enable them to determine the severity of the injuries you've sustained, both in terms actual and projected costs for your physical or emotional suffering. They will also review your existing and expected financial losses to estimate the total value of your case. The damages you incur could include not only your present and future medical costs as well as lost income and property damage.

Your lawyer will also conduct an investigation into the incident, including questioning witnesses and reviewing any available evidence. They will also obtain the driver at fault's driving and cell phone records to see the way they used their vehicle at the time of the collision. This is particularly important if there was a collision that involved an Uber or Lyft vehicle, or any other indication that the driver was working on the clock.

In addition to this your lawyer will also inquire regarding the defendant's prior criminal and traffic offense history in the discovery process. These facts are usually not admissible, however they can be used to undermine the credibility of the defendant in cross-examination.

Negotiating a Settlement

Once you have received the medical records, it is possible to begin settlement negotiations. The insurance company is likely to make an initial offer that is smaller than the amount that you requested in your letter. This is a way to see how strong your case is. In the counteroffer, it's important to emphasize the strongest arguments you have in your favor - for instance, that the insured was at the fault and that you sustained severe injuries with the highest medical costs. Negotiating back and forth could eventually lead to an equitable and reasonable amount.

A skilled accident attorney can successfully argue the benefits of your claim, including presenting evidence to support your losses. This may include photos of the damage to your car as well as a police report and witness testimony. We also know how to calculate the value of various elements of your claim, such as lost income and suffering and pain.

If the insurance company refuses to pay an acceptable amount at this point, we can file a lawsuit. A trial usually lasts one or two days and can be heard by an individual judge (called a bench trial) or jurors. If your case is settled before reaching this stage the process could take months. Alternatively, your attorney may be eligible to file a motion for summary judge. This means presenting all of the evidence to your advantage and arguing that it's impossible for the opposing side to prevail.

Filing a Lawsuit

In the majority of car westland auto Accident law firm cases, the parties can resolve their disputes outside of court. Our team can assist you negotiate with the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident or directly with the driver who was at fault. However, if an agreement cannot be reached Our lawyers will file an action against the defendant. The Complaint contains your claims and allegations regarding the accident and the reasons why you are entitled to compensation. The defendant is served with the Complaint and given a certain amount of time to answer.

The discovery phase is the time when our attorneys and the defendant begin to exchange documents and other materials as they ask questions via interrogatories or depositions. Our team will inquire to the lawyer representing the defendant about their view of the events, including the injuries you've suffered and the way they believe it took place. We will also search for expert opinions to support our position.

During the discovery stage, your lawyer will submit legal documents, also known as motions in court to be ruled on by a judge. This can include requests for the court to exclude certain evidence or set the date for a trial. It could take a year or more to complete the discovery process and determine a trial date for your case. This is the reason it's essential to find a knowledgeable Long Island car accident attorney early on in the process.