The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation

A lawyer who has experience in litigation involving car accidents will be able to assist you determine the strength of your case and the amount of settlement you could get. But this is only feasible with all the relevant information.

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

Documentation

Documentation is a large part of the work in a car accident. This can include evidence like medical records, photos or witness statements. Generally, the more documentation you have to support your claim, the stronger your argument will be.

A law enforcement report is the primary document you need. The police officer who arrives at the scene of an accident will usually write a report. It will give valuable information regarding the accident as well as the person responsible for it.

Your lawyer may also utilize an official report from law enforcement to seek additional evidence, if needed. If the accident happened in a place of business, for example an employee might have recorded video footage. If this is the case, you should seek a copy from the company.

It is also important to document the costs you have incurred due to the accident. This could include medical bills and records for your treatment, receipts for medications rental car costs as well as in-home care or assistance, transportation costs, and more. It is important to record any income loss due to your accident. You can use tax returns and pay stubs.

You should also get the names of witnesses. They may be able to provide important information, particularly if you are able to get them to give evidence in court. It's important to remember that witnesses may alter their accounts and forget details about the accident over time.

Intake and Investigation

The process of intake is vital to receiving an adequate amount of compensation for your injuries sustained in an accident, whether you have filed a claim with an insurance company or you are suing the person at fault. Your lawyer will begin by examining your medical records, and obtaining copies accident reports and other evidence. They will also go to and document the accident scene.

This information will help them comprehend the severity of your injuries both in terms of future and current costs for your physical and emotional suffering. Then, they will look at your financial losses to determine the worth of your case. Your damages may include not just future and present medical expenses, but also your loss of income and property damage.

Your lawyer will also investigate and interview witnesses and analyzing all the available evidence. They will also collect the at-fault driver's driving and auto accident law firm cell phone records to see how they used their vehicle at the time of the collision. This is particularly important if the collision involved an Uber or Lyft vehicle, or any other indicator that the driver was working, as it could affect their ability to pay for your damages.

As part of the process of discovery the lawyer will inquire about the defendant's criminal and traffic record of offenses. In general, these information are not admissible in court but they could be helpful to undermine the credibility of a defendant during cross-examination.

Negotiating a Settlement

Once you have the medical records then your lawyer will begin negotiations to settle the matter. Initially, the insurance company may make an offer which is usually much lower than what you have requested in the letter. This is a method to assess the strength of your case. In the counteroffer, you must be crucial to emphasize the most important arguments you have 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. Eventually, bargaining back and auto accident law firm forth will result in an amount that is both reasonable and fair.

A skilled accident attorney can effectively argue the merits of your claim including presenting evidence to support your losses. This could include photographs of the car damage along with a police report as well as witness testimony. We know how to calculate the various components of your claim, such as loss of income as well as pain and suffering, and police reports.

If at this point the insurance company still refuses to offer a fair amount, we can choose to bring a lawsuit to court. A trial usually lasts between one and two days, and is conducted by jurors or a judge. If your case settles prior to reaching this phase the process could last months. In addition, your attorney might be eligible to file a motion for summary judgement. This means claiming that all evidence is in your favor and arguing it's impossible for the opposing side to win.

Filing an action

In a majority of car accident cases, the parties can settle their disputes outside of court. Our team will work to assist you in negotiating a settlement with the insurance company of the other driver company or directly with the party at fault. If an agreement cannot be reached the lawyers of our firm will initiate an action against the defendant. The Complaint will include your claims and details about the cause of the crash and why you are entitled to compensation. The defendant is served the Complaint and given a specific period of time to reply.

During the discovery phase, our attorneys will discuss documents and other evidence with the defendant and ask questions via interrogatories and depositions. Our team will ask the defendant's attorney questions regarding their interpretation of events, focusing on what they believe happened, how they believe it occurred and what injuries you have suffered. We will also seek expert opinions to support our position.

During the discovery process, your lawyer could file legal documents called motions to the court for a judge to rule on. These could include requests to the court's decision to exclude certain evidence or to set the date for a trial. It can take as long as a year for the discovery process to be completed and a trial date to be set. It is crucial to talk with an experienced Long Island auto accident law firms accident law firm (https://www.highclassps.com:14015/bbs/board.php?bo_table=free&wr_id=1152873) auto accident attorney at the earliest possible point in the process.