During the initial consultation, your personal injury lawyer will meet with you to discuss the circumstances of your personal injury claims and address any concerns you may have. The litigation phase begins when you and your lawyer file a personal injury lawsuit in court. The filing of the lawsuit sets the clock on when the case could go to trial. Each state's pretrial procedures are different, but it will generally take one to two years for a personal injury case to go to trial.
Keep in mind that a lawsuit must be filed within the strict time limits that each state has set out in a law called a statute of limitations. For most people, filing a personal injury lawsuit occurs only once in a lifetime. As a result, many people have no idea how a personal injury lawsuit will proceed or how long it will take them to receive the compensation they deserve for their injuries. If you have a serious injury as a result of someone else's negligence, from slip and fall accidents to car accidents, you can expect your claim to take this route, usually with the help of a personal injury lawyer.
When you experience serious injuries through no fault of your own, your lawyer may recommend that you file a personal injury lawsuit. A personal injury claim is a civil action that has no relation to any criminal charges associated with your accident. Suffering serious injuries changes life as you knew it before the accident. No one should pay out-of-pocket for expenses that result from another person's negligence.
Knowing the steps involved in a personal injury lawsuit is important to know what to expect if you start civil litigation in the future. Call today for a FREE consultation Then we will begin the investigation phase. Often we will need to photograph the accident site or the scaffolding, ladders, or other material involved. Our experienced investigators will also interview potential witnesses, identify owners, and locate contractors flying at night.
Our international staff can translate into Polish, Russian, Spanish and Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese). The process begins with a meeting with an attorney. Most personal injury law firms, including our own firm, provide this initial case review at no cost. After both parties submit and deliver these initial documents, the parties will submit proof of evidence.
This is a formal evidence exchange process. During the presentation of evidence, your lawyer will send a list of questions or interrogations to the defendant. The lawyer can also file a request for documents. Both parties can also take affidavits or affidavits.
Sometimes, the insurance company may even issue a quick settlement offer before you have a chance to discuss your claim with an attorney or even fully understand the expenses you face as a result of your injuries. Throughout every step of the personal injury claim process, having an attorney on your side can help you. A personal injury lawsuit occurs when a person suffers serious harm through no fault of their own and files a claim for damages against the responsible party. You can handle a small personal injury claim yourself (as long as you are comfortable with the process and are sure you can get a fair outcome), but you will absolutely need an attorney for any personal injury claim where you have suffered a significant injury, or the other party is struggling on issues key.
The steps below describe the various stages of a personal injury lawsuit, from the initial consultation with an attorney to the resolution of your case. While the above serves as a general summary of the personal injury lawsuit process, you should talk to an experienced attorney about the facts and issues specific to your case. Unlike the four-year statute of limitations for personal injury, a wrongful death lawsuit only allows two years to file a lawsuit. Personal injury lawyers are well aware of the tactics insurance companies use to pay as little as possible.
Most personal injury lawyers offer free consultations, so there's no need to pay a lawyer to meet with you. After establishing that a legitimate case exists, the plaintiff's lawyer will file a personal injury claim in the appropriate civil court. If the defendant has assets or an applicable insurance policy, it shouldn't be difficult to find a personal injury defense lawyer willing to take on the case. With personal injury lawyers offering free case evaluations, you have nothing to lose if you discuss your case with an attorney.
When you work with an attorney, you'll receive a robust claims package that includes everything the insurance company needs to understand how your injuries affect your life and finances. . .
