The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation

A lawyer who specializes in the area of car accident litigation will assist you in determining how strong your case is and also how the settlement may be worth. This is only possible if all the information you need is available.

Discovery is the initial step of a car auto accident law firm case. In this phase attorneys and their teams exchange documents and ask each other questions under an oath.

Documentation

Documentation is a significant component of an accident. This could be evidence like medical records, photos or witness statements. In general, the more evidence you can provide to support your claim, the stronger your argument will be.

The first piece of evidence that you must have is a police report. The police officer who arrives at the accident scene will typically prepare a report. It will give valuable information about the accident and the person responsible for it.

If required your lawyer has the option of using an investigation report to collect additional evidence. For instance, if an incident occurred in a business, an employee at that area may have recorded video footage of the incident. If this is the case, the tape should be requested from the business as quickly as it is possible.

Note any costs you have incurred due to the accident. Document all expenses you have incurred as a result of. This can include medical bills as well as records of your treatment, receipts from medications rental car expenses for in-home assistance, care at home expenses for auto accident law Firms transportation, and more. You should also document any income lost due to your accident. This could include old pay slips and tax returns.

It is also advisable to get the names of witnesses. They may be able to provide important information, especially if you are able to have them testify in court. It's important to keep in mind that witnesses could alter their narratives and forget specifics about the accident over time.

Intake and Investigation

If you've made an insurance claim with an firm or are beginning an action against the at-fault driver, the intake process is essential for obtaining the fair and complete compensation you deserve for the injuries you sustained in a crash. Your lawyer will begin by reviewing your medical records, and obtaining copies of accident reports, and other evidence. They will also go to and document the scene of the auto accident law Firms.

This information will allow them to know the extent of your injuries both in terms of future and anticipated costs for your physical and emotional suffering. They will also review your existing and expected financial losses to estimate the total value of your case. Damages could include not just your current and future medical costs but also lost income and property damage.

Your lawyer will also investigate by interviewing witnesses and reviewing all available evidence. They will also gather the driver who was at fault and their driving phone records to determine the way they used their vehicle at the time of the crash. This will be especially crucial if the crash involved an Uber or Lyft vehicle, or Auto accident law firms any other indication that the driver was on the job, as this could impact the ability of them to pay damages.

In addition, your attorney will likely inquire about the defendant's criminal and traffic-related offenses in the discovery process. These details are typically not admissible, but they could be used to undermine the defendant's credibility in cross-examination.

The process of negotiating a settlement

Once you have the medical records, you are able to start settlement negotiations. The insurance company may make an initial offer that is lower than the amount you demanded in your letter. This is a way to assess the strength of your case. In the counteroffer, you must be important to highlight the strongest arguments in your favor, for instance, that the insured was at the fault and that you sustained severe injuries with high medical expenses. Negotiating back and forth could eventually result in a fair and reasonable amount.

A skilled attorney can effectively argue your claim's merits, including presenting evidence to back your losses. This could include photographs of the car's damage or a police report, as well as witness testimony. We also know how to determine the value of various elements of your claim, like loss of income, suffering and pain.

If the insurance company refuses to pay a reasonable amount at this point, we could file a lawsuit. A trial usually lasts between one and two days, and is conducted by either a judge or jury. If your case settles prior to reaching this stage the process could last months. Your lawyer may also be able file a summary motion for judgment. This is where you present all the evidence to your advantage and arguing that it's impossible for the other side to prevail.

Filing a Lawsuit

In the majority of car crash cases parties can resolve their disagreement outside of court. Our team will assist you in negotiating a settlement with the insurance company of the other driver company, or directly with the person at fault. However, if an agreement cannot be reached, our lawyers will start a lawsuit against the defendant. The Complaint will include your assertions and allegations regarding the cause of the crash and the reasons you are entitled to compensation. The defendant is served with the Complaint, and given a specific amount of time to answer.

The discovery stage is when our attorneys and the defendant begin to exchange documents and other material while asking questions through interrogatories or depositions. Our team will pose questions to the lawyer representing the defendant about their view of the events, including the injuries you've sustained and the way they believe it took place. We will also request expert opinions that will support our stance.

During the discovery process your lawyer may file legal documents called motions to the court to a judge's decision on. These could include requests to the court's decision to exclude certain evidence, or to set an appointment for trial. It could 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 vital to work with an experienced Long Island car accident attorney at the beginning of the process.