15 Presents For The Auto Accident Law Lover In Your Life Phases of an Auto Accident Lawsuit

Car crash injuries could result in significant medical bills as well as property damage and loss of wages. An experienced attorney can help you get the compensation you need.


The procedure can differ from case-to-case, but usually starts with the filing of a complaint. Then follows the discovery phase and trial, as well as any appeals.

Medical Records

Medical records are an important element in any auto accident lawsuit. They will help jurors or judges to know the effects of the accident on your life. This includes the emotional, financial physical, and emotional costs. Insurance companies will find it difficult to dispute the story told by medical records.

Depending on your state's laws and your doctor's policy You may be granted only a short amount of time to request medical documents from healthcare providers. This is the reason why you should consult with a lawyer as soon as possible following an accident. Health Information Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, protects your right to access these medical records. However, this doesn't mean that you or your lawyer are the only ones able to examine your medical records. Insurance companies will often try to uncover anything that could suggest your injuries were pre-existing or not as severe as you claim.

auto accident lawsuit fort collins will utilize the medical records you provide to draft an order letter that will include evidence to support the damages you're seeking. It is imperative to ensure that your lawyer provides relevant medical records to the insurance company, as they may ask you to sign a medical authorization that allows them to access all your medical records. This is not beneficial to your claim since it could expose past injuries that are not relevant to this claim.

Police Reports

Each time a police officer responds to a request for help, such as an accident, he or she makes a police report. Although they aren't admissible in the courts of law (they are considered to be hearsay) they can provide valuable information to attorneys in the process of researching and preparing cases.

A police report provides an objective view of what happened in the accident, based on witness statements and observations regarding the damage to the vehicle, weather conditions, drivers and more. It's an important piece of evidence that could help you win an auto accident lawsuit.

Typically you can request a copy your police report from the local police department that handled the investigation by calling their emergency number and supplying the receipt or incident number to identify the report. You can also request copies of police reports through the department's website.

When your medical bills and property damage as well as lost wages exceed a certain amount, you'll need to make a claim against the driver who is at fault. The police report can prove to be a helpful tool in settlement negotiations, especially in cases where you can show that the other driver was largely at fault based on the police officer's observations. Many cases are settled without having to go to trial. It can take time to go through the pre-trial procedures and your case might not be resolved for a year or more.

Insurance Company Negotiations

Once an adjuster has all of the information they require from you as well as the car accident investigation They will then extend an offer of settlement. In order to create their first offer, they'll enter all the information and details into an online program. Most likely, they will come up with a much smaller number than what you estimated using your research. When insurance companies offer settlement offers, they have their own financial interest in the back of their heads.

They'll seek to limit the amount they are required to pay for medical bills and other damages. You can counter by pointing out the ways in which your injuries will affect your life in the future. For instance, you can refer to your rising medical bills, your decreased earning capacity, and the physical and emotional suffering you're going through.

Your attorney or you prepare an order letter and present it to an insurance company. It should include all the evidence you've collected, including statements from witnesses, photographs of your injuries as well as any evidence to support your losses. You'll also make an outline of your non-negotiables to ensure you can prevent the insurance company from negotiating with you. When an agreement is reached, it will be reflected in an agreement to settle in writing. It's common for a back-and-forth to take place during these negotiations, but staying patient will help you reach a fair settlement.

Legal Advice

Discovery is the next phase of the lawsuit, during which the parties exchange information and evidence. Parties can seek medical records, police reports and witness statements. They can also send any additional interrogatories (written questions that need to be answered under oath by the end of the specified time). Your lawyer will also record the extent of the physical, emotional, and psychological injuries you've sustained, as well as any other damages that could be sought out, such as the amount of medical expenses you are currently and in the future along with property damage, lost wages.

Your lawyer will also consult with experts such as medical specialists mechanics, engineers and mechanics. These experts can assist the jury to get clear information about the injuries and accidents you sustained.

Your lawyer will begin negotiations with insurance companies to try to resolve your claim without trial. If the insurance company provides you with a small settlement or fails to take your injuries and other damages into consideration, your case will likely go to trial.

Although a small percentage of cases go to trial it is vital for the victims to file a lawsuit as soon as possible. As time passes memories fade, witnesses pass away, and evidence disappears, making it more difficult to file a convincing claim for the highest amount of compensation. You must also adhere to the statute of limitations for your state which can range between 1 and 6 years.