The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation

A lawyer who specializes in the area of car accident litigation will help you determine how strong your case is and how the settlement you receive could be worth. However this is only feasible when you have all the necessary information.

Discovery is the initial step of a car accident case. During this stage, attorneys and their teams exchange documents and ask each other questions under swearing.

Documentation

Documentation is a large part of the work in an auto accident law firm. This could include evidence such as photographs, medical records or witness statements. The more evidence you have to support your claim the stronger your argument will be.

The first piece of documentation you should have is a police report. Typically the police officer who arrives at the scene of the accident will prepare a report, and this will provide crucial information on how the accident occurred and who was responsible for auto accident Lawsuits the incident.

If necessary your lawyer has the option of using the police report to gather additional evidence. For instance, if an incident occurred at a company where employees were present, the location may have recorded video footage of the incident. If this is the case, you should ask for a copy of the footage from the company.

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 medication, rental car fees, in-home care or assistance expenses for transportation, and more. It is also important to document any income lost due to your accident. This can include old pay slips and tax returns.

You should also try to obtain the names of witnesses. They might be able to provide valuable information, especially if can convince them to give evidence in court. It is important to keep in mind that witnesses may alter their narratives and forget specifics about the incident as time passes.

Intake and Investigation

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

This information will enable them to understand the extent of the harm you've suffered as well as the future and current costs for your emotional or physical suffering. They will then review your existing and expected financial losses to estimate the value of your case. The damages you suffer could include not only current and future medical expenses, but also lost income and property damage.

Your lawyer will also investigate the incident, including speaking with witnesses and analyzing any available evidence. They will also collect the at-fault driver's driving and cell phone records to see what they were doing with their vehicle at the time of the crash. This will be especially important if the collision involved an Uber or Lyft vehicle, or any other indication that the driver was at work, as this could affect the ability of them to pay damages.

Additionally, your attorney will likely ask questions about the defendant's criminal and traffic offence history as part of the discovery process. In general, auto accident attorney these information are not admissible in court but they can be useful to undermine the credibility of the defendant during cross-examination.

The process of negotiating a settlement

After you have obtained the medical records after which your lawyer can start negotiations to settle the matter. The insurance company may make an initial offer that is much less than what you requested in your letter. This is a method to test the credibility of your argument. In the counteroffer, it is crucial to emphasize the most important points in your favor - for instance, that the insured was fully at the fault and that you sustained serious injuries that resulted in high medical costs. 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 prove your losses. This could include photos of car damage, police reports, and witness testimony. We can determine the various elements of your claim, such as loss of income along with pain and suffering as well as a police reports.

If the insurance company refuses to pay a reasonable amount at this point, we could bring a lawsuit. A trial usually lasts between one and two days, and is ruled on by an attorney or a jury. If your case is settled before this stage it could take several months. Or, your lawyer may be able to file a motion for summary judge. This is where you present all the evidence to your advantage and arguing that it's impossible for the opposing side to win.

Filing a Lawsuit

In the majority of car crash cases parties can resolve their disagreement without going to court. Our team will help you negotiate an agreement with the insurance company or directly with the at-fault party. However, if an agreement cannot be reached our lawyers will start a lawsuit against the defendant. The Complaint will list your claims and allegations about the cause of the crash and why you deserve compensation. The defendant is served the Complaint, and given a certain time frame to respond.

During the discovery phase, our attorneys will exchange documents and other evidence with the defendant while asking questions via interrogatories or depositions. Our team will inquire to the lawyer of the defendant regarding their perspective on the events, such as what injuries you've suffered and how they believe it happened. We will also seek out expert opinions that support our position.

During the discovery phase, your lawyer may make legal documents known as motions with the court for a decision by an individual judge. This can include requesting the court to omit evidence or to schedule a trial. It could take a year or more to complete the discovery process and set the trial date for your case. It's crucial to consult with an experienced Long Island auto accident attorney at the earliest possible point during the process.