How a Lawyer Can Help You File a Car Accident Lawsuit Accidents can cause devastating injuries and losses If a negligent driver causes a car accident which causes injuries, or if their insurance isn't enough to cover all of your injuries, you may need to make a claim Your lawyer will then follow the steps necessary to officially start the lawsuit This includes gathering medical documents, evidence and other details about the incident and your injuries Speak to a Lawyer Many victims of car accidents find that they get more compensation when they work with a lawyer This is because lawyers have the experience and expertise in law A lawyer can assist in numerous ways When you meet with lawyers, they'll review all of the relevant facts and evidence pertaining to your injuries and accident This may include any documents you have gathered, medical records, insurance claim documents including police reports, insurance claim documentation, and much more You should also discuss the nature and severity of your injuries You will need to know how serious your injuries are and what the ongoing medical expenses are and if you have lost any earning potential A lawyer can determine the severity of your injuries as well as the damages you have suffered They can also collaborate with you to create an accurate estimate of you could receive from a settlement or a judgment They can also explain any challenges that could arise and how they have handled similar situations in the past You should contact an attorney as soon following your accident as soon as is possible This will allow them to begin investigating your case and gather the evidence required before it's too late https//vimeocom/709860265 will also ensure that you are well within the statute of limitations After they have a complete knowledge of your situation the personal injury lawyer can begin negotiations with the insurer of the responsible party There is no obligation to accept any offer made by the lawyer If you are unable reach a settlement, your lawyer can make a claim on your behalf This involves a lengthy process, which includes the filing of an action, discovery and trial Depending on the nature of your case, it could take anywhere from several months to more than one year to complete It is essential to take into account the experience of a personal injury attorney and their firm's strength when selecting one They should have a solid track record and have the funds to hire experts to testify on your behalf Collect evidence You must have solid evidence to support your claim for compensation This will not only help you prove your innocence, but will also enable you to receive the full amount of monetary damages that you deserve It is important to collect as much evidence as you can such as medical records and police reports Photos and witness testimony are also valuable Try to collect this information immediately after the accident occurs, if possible The police report is the initial piece of evidence you will need It is prepared by the law enforcement officers on the scene The report will include the names of every person who were involved in the accident along with their statements, details about the crash's location and other pertinent information This report is an important piece of evidence for the insurance company as well as the defendant to scrutinize at the beginning of the lawsuit Your lawyer will then begin to collect all financial and medical documents related to the accident These documents will include the medical bills and records for your injuries and the receipts for any damage to your vehicle or other properties It is also essential to have the pay stubs of any income you lost due to the accident Take lots of photos of the site of the accident including skid marks, damage to the vehicle, and other physical evidence Photographs can be extremely helpful to show at the trial for anyone who was not at the scene and can strengthen your case After the initial exchanges of documents at the discovery phase the lawyer may then send a note to the defendant with the evidence that proves the defendant's guilt in the accident and the damages you seek for economic and non-economic losses This is referred to as a Bill of Particulars The defendant then has the option of submitting an answer to your complaint At this point, the judge will schedule a pre-trial conference for the schedule of mandatory physical and oral examinations as well as document production The parties will also be able to obtain expert opinions regarding how the accident occurred and the impact it had on your losses Make a deal with your Insurance Company If it's clear that the insurance company of the at-fault party is responsible for settling the damages resulting from your accident Your lawyer will draft and send an order letter to the insurer This document outlines the facts of the situation and the legal argument your lawyer has for why their insured should be held accountable, as well as a request for damages The insurer will investigate the accident This strategy is used to limit your claim by undervaluing the damage and injuries to property They might also attempt to deflect all claims You'll have to provide evidence of your losses This includes medical bills and expenses, lost income, due to your accident or the death of a family member and property damage A seasoned Long Island car accident lawyer will work with experts to determine the full extent of your damages and the amount you require to receive in order to fully compensate you Once the demand letter is sent, the insurance company will respond with a counteroffer They usually provide much less than what you're seeking They may even try to argue that the injuries you've stated aren't as severe as they claim or that their client was not at fault for an accident It is always advisable to have an legal counsel on your side in order to safeguard your rights A professional lawyer will know when is the right time to sign an offer of settlement They will consider the current and anticipated cost of your injuries and losses and future life-altering effects A lot of car accident cases can be settled outside of court This can save both parties time and money Depending on the type case, a jury or judge will decide the final outcome If you are not happy with the verdict you can decide to appeal the decision A successful lawsuit will allow you to receive the compensation you are entitled to This is particularly important for people who have suffered severe injuries and are suffering the consequences for their lives Make a Lawsuit When insurance companies fail to offer a fair price on the claim, or you are dissatisfied with the results of your settlement, it may be the time to pursue legal action A seasoned New York car accident attorney will guide you through the process and ensure that your rights are protected During the lawsuit process the lawyer will ask any relevant documents from you that can support your claim This could include medical records and police reports, as well as testimonies from witnesses, photographs and videos of the scene of the crash and other crucial details The sooner you provide all of this information to your attorney, the higher your chance of obtaining the maximum amount of compensation for your accident Once your attorney has all the information and is able to create a complaint This is an official document that is filed with the court and distributed to the defendants the parties named in your lawsuit The complaint will detail details about the circumstances of the case and the legal grounds that you are suing to recover damages It will also detail your claim for compensation The defendants will be given a specified time to respond to the complaint This response may include counterclaims, which are their attempt to defend themselves against the accusations Some cases involving accidents are settled out of court Your attorney will discuss whether you would be better off trying to settle the case or bringing the case to trial However, it's up to you to decide which option is best for your needs and your family The trial itself can last one or two days and could be heard by a judge on his own, or it may be held in front of an audience Both sides will present evidence and arguments in favor of their position You can appeal the verdict of your trial if you're unhappy Many people imagine dramatic courtroom scenes when they think of filing a lawsuit, but the vast majority of accident lawsuits are settled outside of court It's usually cheaper, faster and less risky for both parties to reach the settlement rather than to take the case to trial