The Most Hilarious Complaints We ve Received About Auto Accident Claim

The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation

An experienced lawyer in car accident litigation will be able to assist you determine the strengths of your case as well as what settlement amount you might receive. This is only possible if all the information you need is available.

Discovery is the first step of a car accident case. During this stage, attorneys and their teams exchange documents and discuss their respective cases under an oath.

Documentation

Documentation is a large component of an Auto Accident Law Firm accident. This can include evidence like photographs, medical records, or witness statements. The more evidence you have, the more convincing your case.

A police report is the first document you should have. Typically the police officer that arrives at the scene of the accident will draft an investigation report. This will contain important information about how the crash occurred and who was responsible for the incident.

Your attorney may also make use of an official report from law enforcement to seek additional evidence in the event of need. If the incident occurred at the workplace such as a place of business an employee might have recorded video footage. If this is the case, seek a copy from the company.

Note any costs you have incurred in the aftermath of the accident. These could include medical bills, records of your treatment, receipts for medication rental car fees as well as in-home assistance or care, transportation costs and more. Additionally, you must record any income loss due to your injury. You can utilize old tax returns and pay stubs.

You should also obtain the names of witnesses. They may be able to give valuable details, especially if are able to get them to testify in court. But, it's important to keep in mind that witnesses may alter their testimony over time and they may forget details about the accident.

Intake and Investigation

The intake process is essential to getting fair compensation for your injuries sustained in an accident, whether you have submitted an insurance claim or are suing the at-fault party. Your lawyer will begin by reviewing your medical treatment records, obtaining copies of accident reports and other evidence. They will also go to and document the accident scene.

This will allow them to determine the severity of the injuries you've sustained, both in terms cost and projections for your emotional or physical suffering. Then, they will review your current and future financial losses to determine the worth 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 into the incident, which includes interviewing witnesses and analyzing any evidence. They will also obtain driving and cell phone records of the driver at fault in order to determine how they operated their vehicle during the time. This is particularly important if the collision involved an Uber or Lyft vehicle or any other sign that the driver was on the job, as this could negatively impact their ability to pay your damages.

Additionally the lawyer may inquire about the defendant's past criminal and traffic offense history as part of the discovery process. These details are typically not admissible but could be used to undermine the defendant's credibility in cross-examination.

The process of negotiating a settlement

After you have obtained the medical records after which your lawyer can start negotiations for settlement. In the beginning the insurance company will present an offer that is usually considerably lower than what you have requested in the letter. This is a strategy to see how strong your case. In the counteroffer, you must be important to highlight the strongest arguments you have in your favor - for example, the insured was at blame and that you were afflicted with serious injuries that resulted in high medical expenses. Negotiating back and forth could eventually lead to an appropriate and fair amount.

A skilled lawyer for auto accidents can successfully argue your claim's merits, including presenting evidence to back your losses. This may include photos of the damage to your vehicle as well as a police report and witness testimony. We also know how to determine the value of various elements of your claim, including lost income and pain and suffering.

If at this point the insurance company refuses to provide a reasonable amount, we can choose to file a lawsuit in court. A trial usually lasts up to two days and can be heard by an individual judge (called a bench trial) or by jurors. If your case settles before this stage, it can take several months. Your attorney may also be able file a summary motion to dismiss. This is a way of presenting all the evidence to your advantage and arguing that it is impossible for the opposing side to prevail.

Filing an action

In a majority of car accident cases the parties are able to resolve their disputes outside of court. Our team can assist you negotiate with the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident or directly with the party responsible for the accident. If no agreement is reached, our attorneys will file a suit against the defendant. The Complaint will contain your claims and allegations regarding the accident and why you are entitled to compensation. The defendant will be served with the Complaint and given a certain time frame to respond.

During the discovery phase, our attorneys will share documents and other evidence with the defendant and ask questions via interrogatories as well as depositions. Our team will ask the attorney for the defendant questions regarding their interpretation of events, focusing on how they believe the crash took place and Auto Accident Law Firm what injuries you've sustained. We will also seek out expert opinions to support our position.

During the discovery phase, your lawyer may make legal documents known as motions with the court to be decided by the judge. This may include requesting the court to block evidence or to schedule a trial. It can take up an entire year for the discovery process to be completed and a trial date established. It's crucial to consult with an experienced Long Island auto accident lawsuits accident attorney early during the process.