The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation

A lawyer with expertise in the area of car accident litigation will help you determine how solid your case is as well as how the settlement might be worth. But it is only possible if you have all the necessary information.

Discovery is the very first step of an auto Accident Law Firm accident case. In this phase attorneys and their teams exchange documents and ask each other questions under the oath.

Documentation

Documentation is a large aspect of the investigation in a car accident. This can include evidence like medical records, photos or witness statements. Generally speaking, the more evidence you can provide to support your claim, the stronger your claim will be.

The first piece of evidence you need is a police report. The police officer who arrives at the scene of the accident is likely to prepare a written report. It will provide important details about the accident and who was responsible.

If required you need to, your attorney can make use of an investigation report to collect additional evidence. If the incident occurred at an office for instance an employee might have recorded video footage. If this is the case, you must request a copy of the video from the business.

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

You should also try to find the names of witnesses. These witnesses can be important sources of information in your case, especially in the event that they are able to give evidence at trial. It is important to keep in mind that witnesses can alter their story over time and could forget specific details about the auto accident attorneys.

Intake and Investigation

The intake process is essential in obtaining fair compensation for your accident injuries, whether you have filed a claim with an insurance company or are suing the party at fault. Your attorney will begin by reviewing your medical records and then obtaining copies auto accident lawsuits reports and other evidence. They will also visit and document the scene of the accident.

This will help them to determine the severity of the injuries you've suffered in terms of cost and projections for your emotional or physical suffering. Then, they'll review your financial losses to determine the value of your case. The damages you suffer could include not only future and current medical expenses, but also lost income and property damage.

Your lawyer will also conduct an investigation and interview witnesses and analyzing the available evidence. They will also gather the driver who was at fault and their driving phone records to determine how they were using their vehicle at the time of the collision. This is especially important if there was a collision involving an Uber or Lyft car or any other indication that the driver was working on the clock.

As part of the process of discovery, your lawyer will also inquire about the defendant's criminal and traffic record of offenses. In general, 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

Once you have received the medical records, you can begin negotiations for settlement. The insurance company will typically make an initial offer that is lower than the amount you demanded in your letter. This is a way to assess how strong your argument is. In your counteroffer, it is crucial to highlight the most powerful points that you have to your advantage. For instance, you can say that the insurer was in the wrong and that there were serious injuries and high medical costs. Then, negotiations back and forth should result in an amount that is both fair and reasonable.

A skilled accident attorney can effectively argue the merits of your claim by presenting evidence to prove your losses. This could include photos of the car damage, police reports or witness testimony. We know how to determine the various elements of your claim, including loss of income along with pain and suffering as well as a police report.

At this point, if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair amount, auto accident law firm we have the option to bring a lawsuit to court. A trial typically lasts between one and two days, and is conducted by a judge or a jury. If your case settles before reaching this phase, the process can take months. Your lawyer may also be able file a summary motion to enter judgment. This involves asserting that all evidence is in your favor, and arguing it's impossible for the opponent to prevail.

Filing an action

In the majority of car accident cases, the parties can settle their disputes outside of court. Our team will 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 an agreement is not reached Our lawyers will start an action against the defendant. The complaint contains your claims and allegations relating to the accident and the reasons why you are entitled to compensation. The defendant is served the Complaint and given a certain time frame to respond.

During the discovery phase, our lawyers will discuss documents and other evidence with the defendant while asking questions through interrogatories and depositions. Our team will inquire to the lawyer for the defendant about their view of the events, including what damages you've suffered and the way they believe it happened. We will also look for expert opinions to support our assertions.

During the discovery stage, your lawyer will file legal documents known as motions with the court to be decided by a judge. This could mean asking the court to omit evidence or set a trial date. It could take up to one year for the discovery process to be completed and auto Accident Law firm a trial date established. This is why it's vital to find a knowledgeable Long Island car accident attorney early on in the process.