14 Cartoons About Auto Accident Claim That'll Brighten Your Day
The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation
A lawyer who is specialized in the field of car accident litigation can help you determine how strong your case is and also how the settlement might be worth. But this is only possible if you have all the information needed.
Discovery is the first step of an auto accident case. During this stage, attorneys and their teams exchange documents and discuss their respective cases under oath.
Documentation
A large portion of the work involved in a car accident case is collecting evidence. This could include evidence like photos, medical records, or witness statements. In general, the more evidence you have to support your claim, the more convincing your claim will be.
The first document you should have is a report from the police. The police officer who arrives at the scene of an accident will usually prepare a report. It will give valuable details about the incident and the person responsible for it.
If required your attorney has to use the police report to gather additional evidence. If the accident occurred in a place of business, for example employees may have recorded video footage. If this is the case, ask for a copy of the footage from the company.
You should also record the costs you have incurred due to the accident. These could include medical bills and records of your treatment, receipts for medications rental car charges and in-home assistance or care transport costs, and much more.
auto accident attorney jacksonville should also document any income you lose due to your accident. This can include old pay stubs, as well as tax returns.
You should also try to get the names of witnesses. These people may be able to provide important information, especially if you can convince them to give evidence in court. It is important to keep in mind that witnesses can alter their narratives and forget specifics about the incident over time.
Intake and Investigation
Whether you have filed an insurance firm or are beginning a lawsuit against an at-fault driver, the process of intake is essential to receive full and fair compensation for the injuries you sustained in a crash. Your attorney will start by reviewing your medical treatment documents, and then obtaining copies accident reports, and other evidence. They will also visit the scene of the accident to take note of what they can.
This information will assist them comprehend the severity of your injuries as well as the future and current costs for your emotional and physical suffering. Then, they will look at your current and future financial losses to determine the value of your case. The damages you suffer could include not only future and ongoing medical expenses, but also your loss of income as well as property damage.
Your lawyer will also conduct an investigation and interview witnesses and analyzing all available evidence. They will also collect the driver at fault's driving records and phone records to determine how they were using their vehicle at the time of the crash. This is particularly crucial if the crash involved an Uber or Lyft vehicle or any other evidence that suggests the driver was working while at work, as it could affect their ability to cover your damages.
In addition the lawyer may ask questions about the defendant's criminal and traffic offense history as part of the discovery process. These details are generally not admissible, but they could be used to undermine the credibility of the defendant during cross-examination.
Negotiating a Settlement
Once you have the medical records, you're able to begin negotiations for settlement. In the beginning the insurance company will offer an offer which is usually substantially lower than the amount you have requested in the letter. This is a way to assess the strength of your argument. In the counteroffer, it's important to emphasize the strongest arguments in your favor, for example, the insured was at the fault and that you sustained severe injuries with high medical expenses. The process of negotiating back and forth should eventually lead to an equitable and reasonable amount.

An experienced accident lawyer can effectively argue the merits of your claim, by presenting evidence to prove your losses. This could include photographs of the damage to your vehicle as well as a police report and witness testimony. We know how to calculate various aspects of your claim such as lost income, pain and suffering and police reports.
If at this point the insurance company still refuses to offer a reasonable amount, we can decide to bring a lawsuit to court. A trial usually lasts for up to two days and can be heard by an individual judge (called a bench trial) or by jurors. If your case is settled prior to this phase, it can take several months. Your lawyer may also be able to file a summary judgment motion. This involves arguing that all evidence is in your favour, and arguing it's impossible for the other side to prevail.
Filing an action
In a majority of car accident cases the parties can resolve 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 responsible for the accident. If no agreement is reached, our lawyers will file a suit against the defendant. The Complaint will outline your claims and details about the circumstances of the crash and the reasons you are entitled to compensation. The defendant will be served the Complaint and given a particular period of time to respond to it.
The discovery stage is when our attorneys and the defendant begin to exchange documents and other materials in exchange for questions through interrogatories or depositions. Our team will inquire to the lawyer for the defendant about their interpretation of the events, including what injuries you have suffered and what they believe happened. took place. We will also seek out expert opinions to support our assertions.
During the discovery phase, your lawyer may submit legal documents known as motions to the court for a judge to decide on. This may include requesting the court to omit evidence or set a trial date. It could take a year or more to complete the process of discovery and to set an appointment date for your case. This is why it's important to find a knowledgeable Long Island car accident attorney at the beginning of the process.