The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation

A lawyer with experience in the field of car accident litigation can help you determine the strength of your case and the amount of settlement you can receive. This is only possible when all the information you require is available.

Discovery is the first stage of an auto accident law firm accident case. In this stage, auto Accident law firms attorneys and their teams will exchange documents and ask questions under an oath.

Documentation

Documentation is a major aspect of the investigation in an auto accident law firms accident. This could include evidence like photographs, medical records or witness statements. In general, the more evidence you have to support your claim the stronger your case will be.

The first document you need is a police report. Typically, the police officer who arrives at the scene of the accident will write the report, and it will provide important information about how the accident occurred and who was responsible for the incident.

Your attorney may also make use of the report of a law enforcement officer to pursue additional evidence if necessary. If the accident occurred in a place of business for instance employees may have recorded video footage. If this is the case the tape should be requested from the business as soon as it is possible.

You should also record the expenses you incur in the aftermath of the accident. This could include medical bills and records of your treatment, receipts from medication rental car costs, in-home assistance or care, transportation costs and more. It is important to record any income loss due to your injury. This could include old pay stubs and tax returns.

If you are able to, request the names of any witnesses to the accident as well. These people may be able to provide important information, especially if can convince them to appear in court. It's important to remember that witnesses may change their stories and forget details regarding the accident as time passes.

Intake and Investigation

If you've made an insurance company or are starting an action against an at-fault driver, the process of intake is crucial to getting full and fair compensation for the injuries you sustained in a crash. Your lawyer will begin by examining your medical records, as well as obtaining copies of accident reports and other evidence. They will also go to the scene of the accident to take note of what they can.

This information will enable them to understand the extent of the injuries you've sustained as well as the future and current costs for your emotional or physical suffering. Then, they will review your financial losses in order to estimate the value of your case. The damages could not be limited to only future and ongoing medical expenses, but also lost income and property damage.

Your lawyer will also investigate the incident, including speaking with witnesses and analyzing all the available evidence. They will also gather the driver who was at fault and their driving phone records to determine what they were doing with their vehicle at the time of the accident. This will be especially important if the collision involved an Uber or Lyft vehicle, or any other evidence that suggests the driver was working, as this could affect their ability to pay your damages.

In addition your attorney may ask questions about the defendant's previous criminal and traffic offence history during the discovery process. These information is generally not admissible, but they could be used to undermine the credibility of the defendant during cross-examination.

Negotiating a Settlement

After you have received your medical records, you can begin negotiations for settlement. The insurance company is likely to make an initial offer that is less than the amount you demanded in your letter. This is a method to test how convincing your case. In your counteroffer, it is crucial to highlight the most powerful points you have in your favor. For instance, if you claim that the insurance company was in the wrong and that there were severe injuries and high medical costs. Negotiating back and forth will eventually lead to an acceptable and reasonable amount.

A skilled attorney for accidents will effectively argue the merits of your claim including presenting evidence to support your losses. This could include photos of vehicle damage, police reports and witness testimony. We also know how to calculate the value of each element of your claim, like loss of income, pain and suffering.

If the insurance company refuses to pay an appropriate amount at this point, we could file a lawsuit. A trial usually lasts for between one and two days. It is either heard by a judge (called a bench trial) or a jury. If your case settles prior to this stage it can take a few months. Alternatively, your attorney may be in a position to file an application for summary judgment. This is a way of presenting all the evidence to your advantage and arguing that it is impossible for the opposing side to win.

Filing an action

In the majority of car crash cases parties can resolve their disagreement without the need for court. Our team will help you negotiate with the insurance company of the other driver or directly with the driver who is at fault. However, if there is no agreement Our lawyers will bring a lawsuit against the defendant. The Complaint will list your assertions and allegations regarding how the crash occurred and the reasons you are entitled to compensation. The defendant is served with the Complaint and given a specific period of time to reply.

The discovery phase is the time when our attorneys and the defendant begin to exchange documents and other information while asking questions through interrogatories or depositions. Our team will pose questions to the lawyer representing the defendant about their view of the events, focusing on what injuries you've suffered and what they believe happened. took place. We will also seek out expert opinions to support our assertions.

During the discovery phase, your lawyer can make legal documents known as motions in court for the decision of a judge. These could include requests to the court to exclude certain evidence or to set a trial date. It could take a full year or more to complete the discovery process and determine the trial date for your case. This is the reason it's essential to partner with an experienced Long Island car accident attorney at the beginning of the process.