When a person is involved in an accident in which they were injured, and the accident was the result of the negligence of another party, they may be entitled to file a personal injury claim.
This is a situation that, fortunately, not many people experience frequently. Therefore, they are not familiar with how this type of process works. Hiring an experienced attorney who can advise you, and who will be by your side every step of the way, is critically important so that you can obtain the compensation for damages that you deserve.
The Five Stages of a Personal Injury Process
The more informed you are, the more you’ll know what to expect and what steps you need to take to have a better chance of getting a positive result. Here are the five stages of a personal injury legal process.
1. Get in touch with an attorney as soon as possible. Lawyers specialized in this area will help you review all the circumstances surrounding the accident. In addition to all the consequences and expenses that were derived from this situation. A personal injury attorney can help you determine the strength of your case, and whether it’s worth pursuing a lawsuit.
2. Research stage. Your lawyer will conduct an investigation that will allow him to know every detail of your accident. He will need to gather information such as witness statements, videos from nearby security cameras, talk to accident reconstruction experts and medical experts, etc. He will also need all the evidence regarding your injuries, treatments, economic losses, among others.
3. File a lawsuit. Once have all the necessary information and evidence, it is time to file a lawsuit against the responsible party and their insurance company. Your attorney’s expertise will be crucial at this stage in determining the amount of compensation you deserve, and in starting negotiations.
4. Negotiation. Often the insurance companies, or the responsible person, will make you an offer so that you can settle before going to court. Your lawyer, taking care of your interests, will review this amount and decide if it is a good offer or if he must continue negotiating, or take the case to trial.
5. Litigation stage. In the case that the parties involved cannot reach an agreement between them, then the litigation stage will begin. That is, the case will be brought before a judge so that they can decide the result.
If you have any doubts, or find yourself in such a situation, please contact us. We will help you evaluate your case and will do everything in our power to get you the justice you deserve.
