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The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation

A lawyer with expertise in the field of car accident litigation can help you determine how solid your case is and how the settlement you receive could be worth. However this is only feasible with all the information needed.

Discovery is the first stage of a car accident case. In this stage, attorneys and their teams discuss documents and answer questions under the oath.

Documentation


Documentation is a large part of the work in an auto accident. This can include evidence like photographs, medical records, or witness statements. auto accident law firm dothan have to support your claim, the more convincing your claim will be.

A police report is the first piece of paper you should have. Typically the police officer that arrives at the scene of the crash will prepare an investigation report. This will provide crucial information on how the accident occurred and who was at fault for the incident.

If needed, your attorney can use an investigation report to collect additional evidence. For example, if the incident occurred at a company where employees were present, the location may have recorded footage of the incident. If this is the case, you must request a copy of the video from the company.

You should also keep track of the costs you have incurred as a result of the accident. This can include medical bills and records for your treatment, receipts for medication, rental car fees as well as in-home care or assistance, transportation costs, and many more. It is important to record the loss of income due to your accident. You can use tax returns and pay stubs.

If you can, collect the names of any witnesses to the incident as well. They may be able to give valuable details, especially if can convince them to testify in court. It is important to keep in mind that witnesses can alter their accounts over time, and may forget details of the incident.

Intake and Investigation

If you have filed a claim with an insurance company or are starting legal action against a negligent driver, the process of intake is essential to obtaining an adequate and fair settlement for your crash injuries. Your attorney will begin by examining your medical records, as well as obtaining copies of accident reports, as well as other evidence. They will also visit the site of the crash to observe and document what they can.

This will help them to understand the extent of the injuries you’ve suffered in relation to future and current costs for your emotional or physical suffering. They will then review your existing and expected financial losses to estimate the total value of your case. The damages could include not only future and ongoing medical expenses, but also your loss of income as well as property damage.

Your lawyer will also investigate the incident, which includes interviewing witnesses and analyzing all available evidence. They will also gather the driver at fault’s driving records and phone records to determine the way they used their vehicle at the time of the crash. This is particularly important if the collision involved an Uber or Lyft vehicle, or any other indicator that the driver was working while working, as it could affect their ability to cover your damages.

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

The process of negotiating a settlement

After you have obtained the medical records then your lawyer will begin negotiations for settlement. In the beginning, the insurance company may make an offer that is often much lower than what you have requested in the letter. This is a way to test the strength of your case. In the counteroffer, it’s crucial to emphasize the most important arguments in your favor, for example, the insured was entirely at fault and that you suffered severe injuries with high medical costs. The process of negotiating back and forth should eventually lead to an appropriate and fair amount.

A skilled accident attorney can effectively argue for the merits of your case, including presenting evidence to support your losses. This may include photos of your car damage, police reports or witness testimony. We know how to determine the various elements of your claim, including lost income as well as pain and suffering, and police reports.

If, at this point, the insurance company continues to refuse to offer a reasonable amount, we have the option to file a lawsuit in court. A trial usually lasts between one and two days, and is heard either by a judge or a jury. If your case is settled before reaching this stage it could take months. Your attorney may also be able file a summary motion to enter judgment. This is where you present all the evidence to your advantage and arguing that it is impossible for the other side to prevail.

Filing an action

In the majority of cases involving car accidents, the parties are able to settle their dispute out of court. Our team will work to help you negotiate a settlement with the insurance company of the other driver company, or directly with the at-fault party. If no agreement can be reached, our attorneys will file a lawsuit against the defendant. The Complaint will include your claims and allegations about the cause of the crash and why you are entitled to compensation. The defendant will be served the Complaint and given a specified amount of time to respond to it.

The discovery phase is where our lawyers and the defendant begin to exchange documents and other information while asking questions through interrogatories or depositions. Our team will be asking questions to the defendant’s lawyer about their perspective on the events, including the injuries you’ve suffered and what they believe happened. occurred. We will also look for experts to back our position.

During the discovery phase, your lawyer can file legal documents called motions to the court for a judge to decide on. This may include requesting the judge to exclude evidence or to schedule a trial. It could take up to an entire year for the discovery process to be completed and a trial date established. It is crucial to talk with an experienced Long Island auto accident attorney as early as possible in the process.