The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation

An experienced lawyer in car accident litigation will be able to assist you determine the strengths of your case as well as what settlement amount you might receive. This is only possible if all the information you need is available.

Discovery is the first step of an snyder auto Accident lawsuit accident case. In this stage, attorneys and their teams communicate with each other and ask questions under the oath.

Documentation

A significant portion of the work involved in a car crash case is obtaining documentation. This can include evidence like photographs, medical records or witness statements. Generally speaking, the more evidence you can provide to support your claim, the stronger your argument will be.

The first piece of evidence you should have is a police report. The police officer who arrives at the scene of the accident will typically prepare a report. It will provide important details about the incident and who was responsible for it.

If necessary you need to, your attorney can make use of a police report to gather additional evidence. For instance, if an accident happened in a business the employee who worked at that location might have recorded video footage of the incident. If this is the case, you must request a copy of the video from the business.

You should also keep track of the expenses you incur due to the accident. This could include medical bills and records of your treatment, receipts for medication, rental car fees home care or assistance transport costs, and many more. In addition, you should keep track of any income loss as a result of your injury. You can use tax returns and pay stubs.

If you are able to, request the names of any witnesses to the lancaster auto accident law firm as well. These witnesses can be important sources of information in your case, especially when they can testify at trial. But, it's important to keep in mind that witnesses can alter their stories over time and forget details of the incident.

Intake and Investigation

The intake process is critical to getting an adequate amount of compensation for your injuries from an accident regardless of whether you've filed a claim with an insurance company or are suing the party at fault. Your attorney will start by looking over your medical treatment records, and obtaining copies of ogallala auto accident lawsuit reports as well as other evidence. They will also visit the scene of the crash to document and observe what they can.

This will allow them to understand the extent of the harm you've suffered, both in terms actual and projected costs for your physical or emotional suffering. Then, they will review your current and future financial losses in order to determine the worth of your case. The damages could include not only your current and future medical expenses as well as lost income and property damage.

Your lawyer will also investigate, including interviewing any witnesses and analyzing the available evidence. They will also gather the at-fault driver's driving and cell phone records to see what they were doing with their vehicle at the time of the accident. This will be especially important if the collision involved an Uber or Lyft vehicle or any other sign that the driver was working while working, as this could negatively impact the ability of them to pay damages.

In addition the lawyer may inquire regarding the defendant's prior criminal and traffic offense history as part of the discovery process. These details are generally not admissible, but they could be used to undermine the credibility of the defendant during cross-examination.

The process of negotiating a settlement

After receiving the medical records, you're able to begin negotiations for settlement. The insurance company will typically make an initial offer that is smaller than the amount that you demanded in your letter. This is a tactic to test how convincing your argument is. In the counteroffer, you must be important to emphasize the strongest arguments for your side - for example, that the insured was completely at the fault, and that you suffered serious injuries that resulted in significant medical expenses. Then, back and forth bargaining will result in an amount that is both fair and reasonable.

A skilled lawyer for accidents can successfully argue your claim's merits including presenting evidence to prove your losses. This could include photos of the damage to your vehicle as well as a police report and witness testimony. We also know how to determine the value of various components of your claim, such as lost income and suffering and pain.

If the insurance company is unwilling to pay a reasonable amount at this point, we may start a lawsuit. A trial usually lasts for one or two days and is usually ruled by a judge (called a bench trial) or by jurors. If your case is settled prior to reaching this stage, the process can take months. Or, your lawyer may be capable of filing a motion for summary judgement. This involves asserting all of the evidence in your favor and arguing that it's impossible for the opposing side to win.

Filing a Lawsuit

In a majority of car accident cases, the parties can settle their disputes outside of court. Our team can help you negotiate with the insurance company of the other driver or directly with the party who is at fault. If a settlement isn't reached, our attorneys will file a lawsuit against the defendant. The Complaint will detail your claims and allegations about how the crash occurred and why you deserve compensation. The defendant will be served with the Complaint and given a certain time frame to respond to it.

The discovery phase is when our lawyers and the defendant will begin to exchange documents and other information as they ask questions via interrogatories or depositions. Our team will ask questions to the lawyer representing the defendant about their version of the events, focusing on what damages you've suffered and how they believe it occurred. We will also solicit expert opinions that support our position.

During the discovery phase, your lawyer could make legal documents known as motions with the court to be decided by the judge. This can include requests for the court to exclude certain evidence or to set the date for a trial. It could take up to an entire year for the discovery process to be completed and a trial date established. This is why it's crucial to consult with a seasoned Long Island car accident attorney early on in the process.