The Intake Process for Car new roads auto accident lawyer Litigation

A lawyer who is specialized in car accident litigation can help you determine how strong your case is as well as how the settlement you receive could be worth. But it is only possible if you have all the necessary information.

Discovery is the first step of an jackson auto Accident lawyer accident case. In this stage, attorneys and their teams will exchange documents and discuss questions under oath.

Documentation

Documentation is a significant part of the work in an accident. This could be evidence like photographs, medical records or witness statements. The more evidence you have the more convincing your case.

A police report is the first piece of paper you need. Typically the police officer who arrives at the scene of the accident will draft reports, and these will provide crucial information on the circumstances of the crash and who was at fault for the incident.

If required you need to, your attorney can make use of an investigation report to collect additional evidence. If the incident occurred in an office such as a place of business, an employee may have recorded video footage. If this is the case, you must request a copy from the company.

Note any costs you have incurred because of the accident. Document any expenses you incurred due to. These could include medical bills and records of your treatment, receipts for medicines rental car charges home care or assistance expenses for transportation, and more. It is important to record any income loss due to your accident. You can use your old tax returns and pay stubs.

It is also advisable to obtain the names of witnesses. They may be able to provide important information, especially if you are able to have them appear in court. But, it's important to remember that witnesses are prone to altering their story over time and may forget details of the accident.

Intake and Investigation

Whether you have filed an insurance company or are starting legal action against a negligent driver, the intake process is essential to obtaining full and fair compensation for your injuries from a crash. Your attorney will begin by examining your medical records and then obtaining copies of accident reports, as well as other evidence. They will also go to and document the accident scene.

This will help them to determine the severity of the injuries you've suffered as well as the cost and projections for your physical or emotional suffering. They will then look over your existing and expected financial losses to estimate the total value of your case. The damages you incur could comprise not only your current and future medical expenses, but also lost income and property damage.

Your lawyer will also conduct an investigation into the incident, including questioning witnesses and analyzing any available evidence. They will also take the driver at fault's driving and phone records to determine how they used their vehicle at the time of the accident. This is especially important in the event that there was a collision involving an Uber or Lyft vehicle or any other evidence that suggests the driver was working on the clock.

As part of the discovery process, your lawyer will also ask about the defendant's traffic and criminal conviction records. These details are generally not admissible in court, but they can be useful to discredit the credibility of the defendant in 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 much lower than the amount you demanded in your letter. This is an opportunity to assess the credibility of your argument. In your counteroffer, it is essential to highlight the most compelling points that you have to your advantage. For example, that the insurer was at fault and that there were serious injuries and high medical costs. Negotiating back and forth could eventually lead to an acceptable and reasonable amount.

A skilled lawyer for accidents can effectively argue your claim's merits by presenting evidence to justify your losses. This may include photos of the damage to your car along with a police report as well as witness testimony. We have the ability to calculate the various components of your claim like lost income, pain and suffering and police report.

If the insurance company is unwilling to pay an amount that is reasonable at this point, we could make a claim. A trial typically lasts up to two days and is either heard by an individual judge (called a bench trial) or by a jury. If your case settles before reaching this stage the process could take months. Your lawyer may also be able file a summary judgment motion. This involves asserting all of the evidence to your advantage and arguing that it's impossible for the other side to prevail.

Filing an action

In the majority of car accident cases, the parties are able to resolve their disputes outside of court. Our team will assist you in negotiating an agreement with the insurance company or directly with the party at fault. If a settlement isn't reached, our lawyers will file a lawsuit against the defendant. The Complaint outlines 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 set amount of time to respond.

During the discovery phase, our lawyers will share documents and other materials with the defendant while asking questions via interrogatories or depositions. Our team will pose questions to the defendant's lawyer about their view of the events, including the damages you've suffered and how they believe it took place. We will also seek expert opinions that will support our stance.

During the discovery phase, your lawyer could file legal documents called motions to the court for a judge to rule on. This can include requesting the court to omit evidence or to schedule a trial. It can take as long as a year for the discovery process to be completed and a trial date set. This is the reason it's essential to work with an experienced Long Island car accident attorney at the beginning of the process.