How To Explain Auto Accident Claim To Your Grandparents

The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation

A lawyer who specializes in car accident litigation can help you determine how solid your case is, and how the settlement you receive could be worth. However this is only possible if you have all the information needed.

Discovery is the first stage of a car accident case. During this phase attorneys and their teams exchange documents and ask questions under an oath.

Documentation

A large portion of the work involved in a car wreck case is collecting documentation. This can include evidence such as medical records, photos, or witness statements. Generally speaking, the more evidence you have to support your claim, the more convincing your claim will be.

A law enforcement report is the first piece of paper you need. The police officer who arrives at the scene of the accident will typically prepare a report. This will provide valuable information regarding the accident as well as who was responsible.

Your lawyer can also make use of an official report from law enforcement to obtain additional evidence, if needed. If the accident occurred in a place of business such as a place of business employees may have recorded video footage. If this is the situation, the tape should be requested from the business as soon as it is possible.

It is also important to document the expenses you incur in the aftermath of the accident. This can include medical bills and records for your treatment, receipts for medications rental car costs home care or assistance, transportation costs, and more. In addition, you should keep track of any income loss because of your injury. This could include old pay slips and tax returns.

If you can, collect the names of any witnesses to the incident as well. These people can serve as valuable sources of information for your case, especially in the event that they are able to testify at trial. However, it's important to keep in mind that witnesses can alter their story over time and may forget details of the accident.

Intake and Investigation

The intake process is essential to receiving fair compensation for your injuries from an accident regardless of whether you've filed a claim with an insurance company or are suing the responsible party. Your lawyer will begin by looking over your medical records and then obtaining copies of accident reports, as well as other evidence. They will also visit and document the scene of the accident.

This will allow them to assess the severity of the injuries you've sustained in relation to cost and projections for your emotional or physical suffering. They will then review your financial losses in order to determine the value of your case. The damages could include not only future and ongoing medical expenses, but also your loss of income and property damage.

Your lawyer will also conduct an investigation into the incident, including interviewing witnesses and reviewing any available evidence. They will also obtain the driving and cell phone records of the at-fault drivers to determine how they used their vehicle at the time. This is especially important if there was a collision involving an Uber or Lyft car, or any other evidence that suggests the driver worked while on the clock.

Additionally your lawyer will also ask questions about the defendant's criminal and traffic offense history as part of the discovery process. In general, these information are not admissible in court but they could be helpful to undermine the credibility of the defendant during cross-examination.

Negotiating a Settlement

After you have received your medical records, it is possible to begin settlement negotiations. The insurance company will often make an initial offer that is smaller than the amount that you requested in your letter. This is an opportunity to determine the strength of your argument. When you counteroffer, it's crucial to highlight the most powerful points that you have to your advantage. For instance, you could argue the insurer was in the wrong and that there were severe injuries and the medical costs were high. Negotiating back and forth will eventually result in an acceptable and reasonable amount.

A skilled lone grove auto accident law firm lawyer can successfully argue your claim's merits including presenting evidence to prove your losses. This could include photos of car damage, police reports and witness testimony. We know how to determine the various elements of your claim, including lost income as well as pain and suffering, and police reports.

If the insurance company refuses to pay an acceptable amount at this point, we could make a claim. A trial usually lasts one or two days and can be heard by an individual judge (called a bench trial) or by jurors. If your case is settled before reaching this phase, the process can take months. Alternatively, your attorney may be able to file a motion for summary judgment. This involves asserting all of the evidence in your favor and arguing that it's impossible for the other side to prevail.

Filing a Lawsuit

In the majority of car accident cases parties can settle their dispute without the need for court. Our team can help you negotiate with the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident or directly with the person who is at fault. However, if there is no agreement the lawyers of our firm will bring an action against the defendant. The Complaint will include your claims and details about how the accident occurred and why you are entitled to compensation. The defendant will be served the Complaint and given a particular timeframe to respond to it.

The discovery phase is when our lawyers and the defendant will begin to exchange documents and other material as they ask questions via interrogatories or depositions. Our team will pose questions to the lawyer representing the defendant about their interpretation of the events, including what injuries you've suffered and the way they believe it took place. We will also seek out experts to back our position.

During the discovery phase, your lawyer could file legal documents called motions to the court to a judge's decision on. These could include requests to the court to block certain evidence, or to set an appointment for trial. It can take a whole year or more to complete the discovery process and set the trial date for your case. It is imperative to speak with an experienced Long Island Alexandria Auto Accident Lawsuit menlo park auto accident law firm attorney as early as possible during the process.