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The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation

A lawyer who is experienced in litigation involving car accidents will be able to help you determine the potential strength of your case and what settlement amount you might get. This is only possible when all the information you need is available.

Discovery is the very first step of an auto accident case. During this stage, attorneys and their teams will discuss documents and answer questions under an oath.

Documentation

Documentation is a large part of the work in an accident. This may include evidence like photos, medical records, or witness statements. The more evidence you have the more convincing your case will become.

A police report is the very first document you need. The police officer who arrives at the accident scene will typically prepare a report. This will provide valuable details about the accident and the person responsible for it.

Your lawyer may also utilize a law enforcement report to gather additional evidence, if needed. If the incident occurred at the business environment for instance an employee might have recorded video footage. If this is the case, you should seek a copy from the company.

It is also important to document the costs you have incurred due to the accident. These could include medical bills as well as records of your treatment, receipts from medications, rental car charges, in-home assistance or care as well as transportation costs. It is important to record the loss of income due to your injury. This could include old pay slips and tax returns.

If you are able to, request the names of witnesses to the accident as well. These people may be able to provide important information, especially if are able to get them to give evidence in court. It is important to remember that witnesses can alter their stories and forget details regarding the accident as time passes.

Intake and Investigation

The intake process is critical to getting an adequate amount of compensation for your accident injuries regardless of whether you've filed a claim with an insurance company or you are suing the person at fault. Your lawyer will begin by looking over your medical treatment records, obtaining copies of accident reports, and other evidence. They will also visit the scene of the accident to record and observe what they can.

This information will allow them to comprehend the extent of the injuries you've suffered in relation to future and current costs for your emotional or physical suffering. They will then look over your financial losses to determine the total value of your case. The damages you suffer could include not only current and future medical expenses, but also lost income and property damage.

Your lawyer will also investigate the incident, including speaking with witnesses and analyzing any available evidence. They will also collect information about the driving habits and cell phones of the driver at fault in order to determine how they used their vehicle at the time. This is particularly important when there was a collision that involved an Uber or Lyft car, or any other indication that 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. These details are typically not admissible but could be used to undermine the credibility of the defendant in cross-examination.

Negotiating a Settlement

After receiving the medical records, you're able to start settlement negotiations. In the beginning, the insurance company may make an offer that is often considerably lower than what you demand in the letter. This is a strategy to determine how strong your case. In your counteroffer it is important to highlight the strongest points you have in your favor. For instance, you could argue that the insurer was at fault and that there were severe injuries as well as the medical costs were high. Then, bargaining back and forth will lead to an amount that is both reasonable and fair.

An experienced accident lawyer can successfully argue your claim's merits, including presenting evidence to prove your losses. This could include photos of car damages, police reports and witness testimony. We are able to calculate various aspects of your claim, such as loss of income along with pain and suffering as well as a police report.





If the insurance company refuses to pay an acceptable amount at the moment, we can start a lawsuit. A trial typically lasts between one and two days. It can be heard by an individual judge (called a bench trial) or a jury. If your case is settled before this point, it can take several months. Alternatively, your attorney may be in a position to file an application for summary judgment. This is where you present all the evidence in your favor and arguing that it is impossible for the other side to win.

Filing an action

In the majority of car accident cases, the parties can resolve their disagreement without going to court. Our team will help you negotiate an agreement with the insurance company, or directly with the at-fault party. However, if there is no agreement our lawyers will start an action against the defendant. The Complaint will contain your claims and allegations about the incident and 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 attorneys will exchange documents and other material with the defendant, while asking questions via interrogatories as well as depositions. Our team will ask the defendant's attorney questions about their version of events, including the circumstances under which they believe the crash happened and what injuries you have suffered. We will also look for experts to back our position.

During the discovery process, your lawyer can submit legal documents known as motions to the court for a judge to decide on. auto accident attorneys chico could include requests for the court to block certain evidence or set an appointment for trial. It can take a year or more to complete the discovery process and set the date of trial for your case. This is why it's vital to find a knowledgeable Long Island car accident attorney early in the process.