The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation

A lawyer who is specialized in car auto accident law firm litigation can help you determine the strength of your case is as well as how the settlement may be worth. But it is only possible with all the relevant information.

Discovery is the first stage of an auto accident law firms accident case. During this stage, attorneys and their teams exchange documents and discuss their respective cases under swearing.

Documentation

The majority of the work involved in a car crash case is obtaining documentation. This could include evidence such as photos, medical records or witness statements. The more evidence you have, the better your case will be.

A law enforcement report is the first document you need. Typically, the police officer who arrives at the scene of the accident will write the report, and it will provide important information about what happened and who was responsible for the incident.

If required you need to, your attorney can make use of the police report to gather additional evidence. If the accident occurred in the workplace such as a place of business employees may have recorded video footage. If this is the case, the tape should be requested from the company as soon as it is possible.

Note any costs you have incurred as a result of the accident. Record any costs you incur due to. This can include medical bills and records for your treatment, receipts for medication rental car charges home care or assistance, transportation costs, and more. You should also document the loss of income due to your accident. This could include old pay stubs and tax returns.

You should also try to get the names of witnesses. They may be able to provide important information, especially if can get them to be a witness in court. It's important to remember that witnesses could alter their stories and forget details regarding the accident as time passes.

Intake and Investigation

If you've made an insurance claim with an company or are starting an action against the at-fault driver, the process of obtaining an intake is essential to obtaining an adequate and fair settlement for your injuries from a crash. Your lawyer will begin by reviewing your medical treatment documents, as well as copies of accident reports and other evidence. They will also visit the scene of the accident to record and auto Accident law firm observe what they can.

This information will allow them to know the extent of your injuries in relation to future and projected costs for your emotional and physical suffering. They will then look over your financial losses to estimate the total value of your case. Your damages can include not just your current and future medical costs but also lost income and property damage.

Your lawyer will also investigate, including interviewing any witnesses and reviewing all available evidence. They will also collect information about the driving habits and cell phones of the at-fault drivers to determine if they were using their vehicle at the time. This will be especially crucial if the crash involved an Uber or Lyft vehicle, or any other evidence that suggests the driver was working while working, as this could negatively impact their ability to pay for your damages.

In addition, your attorney will likely ask questions about the defendant's criminal and traffic convictions as part of the discovery process. Generally speaking, these facts are not admissible in court, but they could be helpful to impeach the defendant's credibility in cross-examination.

The process of negotiating a settlement

After you've obtained the medical documents after which your lawyer can start negotiations on settlement. The insurance company is likely to make an initial offer that is much lower than the amount you requested in your letter. This is a way to test the strength of your case. In the counteroffer it is important to emphasize the strongest arguments in your favor, for example, the insured was at fault and that you suffered serious injuries that resulted in the highest medical costs. Negotiating back and forth could eventually result in an appropriate and fair amount.

A skilled accident lawyer can successfully argue your claim's merits, including presenting proof to support your losses. This may include photos of the car's damage, a police report and witness testimony. We also know how to calculate the value of various components of your claim, such as loss of income, suffering and pain.

If the insurance company refuses to pay an appropriate amount at this point, we could make a claim. A trial typically lasts between one and two days, and is judged by an attorney or a jury. If your case settles prior to reaching this stage it could take months. Your attorney might also be able file a summary motion to dismiss. This is a way of claiming that all evidence is in your favor and arguing that it's impossible for the opposition to prevail.

Filing an action

In the majority of car crash cases parties can settle their dispute without going to court. Our team will help you negotiate with the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident or directly with the person responsible for the accident. If no agreement is reached, our attorneys will file a suit against the defendant. The Complaint will outline your claims and details about the cause of the crash and the reason you should be compensated. The defendant will be served the Complaint and given a specified period of time to respond to it.

During the discovery phase, our lawyers will discuss documents and other materials with the defendant, while asking questions via interrogatories and depositions. Our team will ask the defendant's attorney questions about their version of events, including what they believe happened during the crash, as well as how they think it occurred and what injuries you've sustained. We will also solicit expert opinions that will support our stance.

During the discovery phase, your lawyer can prepare legal documents referred to as motions in court to be ruled on by a judge. This could mean asking the judge to exclude evidence or set a trial date. It can take up one year for the discovery process to be completed and a trial date established. It is crucial to talk with an experienced Long Island auto accident law Firm accident attorney at the earliest possible point during the process.