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9 Lessons Your Parents Taught You About Auto Accident Claim
The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation

A lawyer who has experience in the field of car accident litigation will be able to help you determine the strengths of your case as well as how much settlement you could get. However this is only possible when you have all the necessary information.

The initial step in a car accident lawsuit is called discovery. In this phase, attorneys and their teams exchange documents and discuss questions under the oath.

auto accident attorney murfreesboro of the work involved in a car wreck case is collecting evidence. This can include evidence like photographs, medical records or witness statements. The more documentation that you have, the more convincing your case will be.

The first piece of documentation you need is a police report. Typically the police officer that comes to the scene of the accident will prepare an investigation report. This will give important details about how the crash occurred and who was at fault for the incident.

Your attorney can also use the law enforcement report to seek additional evidence, if needed. For example, if the incident took place in a commercial where employees were present, the area may have recorded video footage of the incident. If this is the case, the tape should be requested from the company as soon as is possible.

You should also keep track of the costs you have incurred in the aftermath of the accident. This could include medical bills and records of your treatment, receipts for medicines rental car charges home care or assistance, transportation costs, and more. Additionally, you must record any income loss due to your injury. You can use your old tax returns and pay stubs.

It is also advisable to find the names of witnesses. These people can serve as valuable sources of information for your case, particularly in the event that they are able to be present at trial. However, it's important to keep in mind that witnesses can alter their story over time and could forget specific details about the accident.

Intake and Investigation

The intake process is essential to getting fair compensation for your injuries sustained in an accident regardless of whether you've filed a claim with an insurance company or are suing the responsible party. Your attorney will start by looking over your medical treatment records, and obtaining copies of accident reports, and other evidence. They will also visit and document the accident scene.

This information will assist them know the extent of your injuries as well as the current and projected future costs for your emotional and physical suffering. Then, they will look at your financial losses to estimate the value of your case. The damages could not be limited to only future and ongoing medical expenses, but also loss of income and property damage.

Your lawyer will also conduct an investigation, including interviewing any witnesses and analyzing all available evidence. They will also gather the driver at fault's driving and cell phone records to see how they used their vehicle at the time of the accident. This is particularly important if there was a collision involving an Uber or Lyft car, or any other evidence that suggests the driver was working around the clock.

As part of the discovery procedure as part of the discovery process, your lawyer will ask about the defendant's traffic and criminal record of offenses. Generally speaking, these facts are not admissible in court but they could be helpful to undermine the credibility of a defendant during cross examination.

The process of negotiating a settlement

After you've obtained the medical documents and obtaining the medical records, your lawyer can begin negotiations for settlement. Initially the insurance company will present an offer that is usually significantly lower than the amount you have requested in the letter. This is a tactic to assess how strong your case is. In the counteroffer it is important to highlight the strongest points in your favor - for example, the insured was at the fault and that you sustained severe injuries with significant medical expenses. Negotiating back and forth will eventually result in an appropriate and fair amount.

An experienced accident lawyer will effectively argue the benefits of your claim, including presenting evidence that supports your losses. This could include photos of car damage, police reports, and witness testimony. We also know how to calculate the value of various elements of your claim, such as lost income and pain and suffering.

If the insurance company refuses to pay an amount that is reasonable at this point, we can bring a lawsuit. A trial usually lasts for between one and two days. It is either heard by a judge (called a bench trial) or jurors. If your case settles prior to reaching this stage it could take months. In addition, your attorney might be eligible to file a motion for summary judgement. This involves arguing that all evidence is in your favor and arguing that it's impossible to allow the opposition to win.

Filing a Lawsuit

In a majority of cases involving car accidents parties are able to 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 party who was at fault. If no agreement is reached, our attorneys will file a lawsuit against the defendant. The Complaint will detail your claims and allegations regarding how the crash occurred and why you are entitled to compensation. The defendant is served with the Complaint, and given a specified time frame to respond.

The discovery phase is when our lawyers and the defendant begin to exchange documents and other materials as they ask questions via interrogatories or depositions. Our team will ask the attorney for the defendant questions about their view of events, including the circumstances under which they believe the crash happened and what injuries you've sustained. We will also seek experts to back our position.

During the discovery process, your lawyer could submit legal documents, also known as motions to the court for a judge to rule on. These could include requests to the court to exclude certain evidence or set a trial date. It could take a year or more to complete the discovery process and determine the trial date for your case. This is the reason it's essential to consult with a seasoned Long Island car accident attorney at the beginning of the process.