Life can take an unexpected turn after an accident. Apart from the emotional and physical impact, accidents can majorly affect a person’s family life, career, and financial circumstances. But when faced with a personal injury accident, understanding your legal rights and knowing how to seek compensation for your injuries becomes paramount.
The legal process following a personal injury accident can often seem daunting and complex, but a seasoned lawyer can help you navigate it smoothly.
Whether you’ve been injured in a car crash, slip and fall incident, or any other type of accident, arming yourself with knowledge is key to securing the justice and compensation you deserve. In this blog, we will shed light on the steps involved in suing for a personal injury accident.
Hire an Experienced Attorney
Before you file your case, you must hire an experienced law firm well-versed in personal injury law like Gallagher & Kennedy. A lawyer will work with you throughout the process and help adequately protect your rights to compensation.
The attorney will investigate to gather all necessary evidence, such as medical reports, police reports, witness statements, photographs, and video footage that can support your claims against the defendant. Once they have gathered thorough information about your case, they will advise on whether or not suing would make sense in light of the damages sustained.
File Your Complaint
After establishing legal representation, the next step is to file a complaint with the court outlining what led to the accident causing harm. This document sets out details about how the injuries occurred (mentally and physically), who was involved in that incident (if there were more than one party), where it happened, and how much it has cost you (lost wages/care costs, etc.).
Serve Defendant(s)
You are required by law to serve copies of this complaint to named defendants within a certain time frame after filing the complaint. Otherwise, legal actions taken could be dismissed regardless of the fault that applies to those sued.
Discovery Process
The discovery process commences after the plaintiff files a lawsuit against the defendant for causing personal injury. This legal action triggers intricate steps to ensure both parties can access all relevant information before trial. The process has roughly eight stages that cover depositions, document gathering, request for admission, independent assessment, and expert testimony.
This process is crucial for building a strong case, as it allows each side to gather evidence, evaluate the strength of their case, and potentially negotiate a settlement. It is meant to promote transparency, ensure fairness, and avoid surprises during the trial.
Attorneys play a key role in guiding clients through discovery and advocating for their interests.
Settlement or Trial
After the fact-finding stage comes the time for either party to settle. This could happen quickly in mediated mediation environments where both sides have agreed beforehand on how much compensation might be acceptable in advance negotiations, avoiding court where feasible. This saves everyone money and valuable energy. Not just that. It helps avoid potential mental health problems that can come with long, drawn-out trials.
Should settlement prove an impossible option, litigation is inevitable. The court will set a trial date (usually completed within the year), and witnesses may be called to testify formally under oath. The trial will be decided based on facts with a ‘preponderance of evidence. Depending on the specifics of a claim, a trial can last anywhere between a few months to a few years. Hence, it is extremely important to thoroughly assess the case’s merits before taking it to trial.
Conclusion
Suing someone for your personal injury accident can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be if you hire an experienced attorney who knows how to navigate this process effectively. Whether through settlements or trial litigation, your attorney will help protect your rights throughout, so there’s no need for additional stress when trying to recuperate mentally and physically.
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