Phases of an college park auto accident attorney Accident Lawsuit

Car accident injuries can result in significant medical bills along with property damage and lost wages. An experienced lawyer can assist you receive the compensation that you need.

The process may differ from case to case, but generally it starts with the filing of an action. Then follows the discovery phase along with any appeals.

Medical Records

Medical records are an essential part of any rowlett auto accident Attorney accident lawsuit. They can help the jury or judge comprehend the impact of the injury on your life. This includes the financial, emotional, and physical costs. Insurance companies will be unable to refute the story portrayed by medical records.

Based on the laws of your state and your doctor's guidelines, you may have only a short amount of time to request medical documents from healthcare providers. It is recommended to consult with your lawyer as soon following an accident as possible. Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) HIPAA guarantees your right to access these documents. However, this doesn't mean that only you or your lawyer can view your medical records. Insurance companies constantly look for evidence that might suggest your injuries might not be as severe as you think or pre-existing.

Your lawyer will use your medical records to prepare a demand letter that will include evidence to justify the damages you are seeking. Your lawyer should only supply the relevant medical documents to your insurance company. They might ask you to grant them permission to access your complete medical record. This is not in your best interests since it could expose past injuries that aren't connected to the current claim.

Police Reports

Every time a police officer responds to a call for help, which could include an accident, he prepares a police report. Although they cannot be admitted in a court of law (they are considered to be hearsay) they are valuable information to attorneys in the process of investigating and preparing cases.

A police report is an objective assessment of what happened in the crash, based upon witness statements and observations regarding the damage to the vehicles as well as weather conditions, drivers, and so on. It's a crucial piece of evidence that can assist you in winning your lawsuit for car accidents against the defendant.

Usually you can request a copy of your police report from the precinct which was responsible for the investigation by calling their non-emergency phone number and supplying an incident or receipt to identify it. The police department may also have a website where you can request copies online.

You'll need to file a lawsuit against the driver at fault once your medical bills along with lost wages and property damage exceed an amount. The police report can be a valuable tool in settlement negotiations, especially when you can establish the other driver's fault from the evidence provided by the officer. Many cases end up reaching settlements without ever going to trial. The process of preparing for trial can be lengthy and your case may not be resolved until one year after you file it.

Insurance Company Negotiations

Once the adjuster has all the information they require from you as well as your car accident investigation, they'll make a settlement offer. To generate their first offer, they will enter all the details and facts into the computer program. Most likely, they'll produce a significantly less than the amount you calculated from your research. It's important to remember that insurance companies have their own financial interests in mind when deciding on settlement offers.

They'll want to reduce the amount they'll need pay for medical bills and other damages. You can counter by pointing out the ways in which your injuries could affect your life in the future. You can, for example you can highlight the mounting medical bills and your lost earning potential, as well in the mental and physical suffering you're experiencing.

You or your attorney will then prepare the letter of demand and submit it to an insurance company. The letter should contain all the evidence you've gathered, including witnesses' statements and photographs of your injuries. Also, you will create a list of the non-negotiables that will keep the insurance company from undervaluing your claim. When an agreement has been reached and the written settlement contract will reflect it. It's common for a back-and-forth to take place during the negotiation process, but remaining in the moment will help you get a fair settlement.

Legal Advice

The next phase in the car lawsuit involving an accident is discovery, in which both sides exchange information and evidence. Parties can require medical records or police reports, as well as witness statements. The parties may also trade interrogatories which are written inquiries which must be answered under the oath within a specified time. Additionally your lawyer will record the extent of your physical emotional and psychological injuries in addition to the other damages you might seek compensation for such as current and anticipated future medical expenses, property damage and lost wages.

Your lawyer will consult with other experts like mechanics, medical professionals and engineers. These experts can assist the jury get a clear picture of your injuries and the accident.

Your attorney will then begin discussions with insurance companies to resolve your case without trial. However, if the insurance company offers you a low amount of money or fails to take your injuries and other damages into consideration, your case will likely be heard at trial.

It is important that victims file a lawsuit immediately even though very few cases make it to court. With time, memories fade, witnesses pass away, and evidence disappears and it becomes more difficult to file a convincing claim for maximum compensation. In addition, you must abide with the statute of limitations in your state, which can range from 1 to 6 years.