The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation

A lawyer who specializes in the field of car accident litigation can help you determine the strength of your case is, and auto accident Law firms how the settlement you receive could be worth. However it is only possible if you have all the relevant information.

The initial step in a car crash lawsuit is called discovery. During this stage attorneys and their teams exchange documents and discuss their respective cases under oath.

Documentation

Documentation is an integral element of an accident. This can include evidence like photographs, medical records, or witness statements. The more evidence you can provide to support your claim the more convincing your case will be.

A police report is the primary document you should have. The police officer who arrives at the scene will usually prepare a report. This report will provide important information about the accident and who was responsible for it.

If required you need to, your attorney can make use of a police report to gather additional evidence. For instance, if an incident took place in a commercial or office, an employee working at the location may have recorded footage of the incident. If this is the case, seek a copy from the business.

Document any expenses you incurred due to the accident. Document all expenses you have incurred as a result of. These could include medical bills and records of your treatment, receipts from medications rental car expenses, in-home assistance or care, transportation costs and more. In addition, you should note any income loss as a result of your accident. You can use tax returns and pay stubs.

If you are able to, request the names of witnesses to the accident as well. These people may be able provide valuable information, particularly if you can convince them to give evidence in court. It's important to remember that witnesses may alter their stories and forget details about the incident as time passes.

Intake and Investigation

The intake process is essential to receiving fair compensation for your injuries from an accident, whether you have filed an insurance claim or are suing the party at fault. Your lawyer will begin by reviewing your medical documents, and then obtaining copies accident reports and other available evidence. They will also visit the site of the auto accident law firms to take note of what they can.

This information will help 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 to estimate the total value of your case. The damages could include not only your present and future medical costs but also lost income and property damage.

Your lawyer will also investigate by interviewing witnesses and analyzing the available evidence. They will also collect the driving and cell phone records of the drivers who were at fault to determine how they operated their vehicle at the time. This is especially important in the event that there was a collision that involved an Uber or Lyft car or any other evidence that suggests the driver worked while on the clock.

In addition to this, your attorney will likely ask questions regarding the defendant's prior criminal and traffic offence history during the discovery process. These details are generally not admissible, but they could be used to undermine the credibility of the defendant in cross-examination.

The process of negotiating a settlement

After you have received your medical records, you can begin settlement negotiations. The insurance company is likely to make an initial offer that is less than the amount you demanded in your letter. This is a tactic to determine how strong your argument is. In your counteroffer it is important to highlight the strongest points you have to your advantage. For instance, you can say the insurer was at fault and there were serious injuries as well as expensive medical expenses. In the end, a lot of negotiations back and forth should get you to an amount that is both fair and reasonable.

A skilled attorney can effectively argue your claim's merits, including presenting proof to support your losses. This could include photos of the car damages, police reports and witness testimony. We also know how to calculate the value of different elements of your claim, like loss of income, pain and suffering.

If the insurance company refuses to pay an acceptable amount at the moment, we can bring a lawsuit. A trial typically lasts between one and two days and is judged by an attorney or a jury. If your case settles prior to this phase it can take a few months. Your attorney may be capable of filing an application for summary judgment. This involves asserting that all evidence is in your favour, and arguing that it's impossible to allow the opposition to prevail.

Filing an action

In the majority of car auto accident law firm cases, the parties are able to resolve their disputes 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 an agreement cannot be reached the lawyers of our firm will start an action against the defendant. The Complaint will list your claims and Auto Accident Law Firms allegations about how the accident occurred and the reason you should be compensated. The defendant is served the Complaint and given a certain time frame to respond.

During the discovery phase, our attorneys will share documents and other materials with the defendant, while asking questions via interrogatories or depositions. Our team will ask the attorney for the defendant questions about their version of events, focusing on what they believe happened during the crash, as well as how they think it happened and what injuries you have suffered. We will also seek out expert opinions to support our assertions.

During the discovery stage, your lawyer will prepare legal documents referred to as motions with the court for a decision by a judge. This can include requesting the court to block evidence or to schedule a trial. It can take a year or more to complete the process of discovery and to set the date of trial for your case. This is why it's crucial to find a knowledgeable Long Island car accident attorney early on in the process.