How to Get Through an Accident Litigation Case That Goes to Court In general, it takes at least a year to settle an accident litigation case that goes to trial Consult a skilled car accident lawyer as soon as possible Your attorney will have to collect evidence and documents regarding your injuries as well as their impact on your life This will include medical records, witness testimony and documents relating to the accident Getting Started It is essential to contact an attorney immediately if you've suffered injuries in an auto accident This will ensure that your rights are protected and that you don't miss the deadline to file an action, also known as the statute of limitations An experienced lawyer can help you through the process of filing a lawsuit and obtaining the compensation that you are entitled to for the losses and injuries you have suffered When an attorney decides to take on an instance, they begin to examine the incident and construct their case by collecting evidence This can include police records and medical records as well as witness statements The attorney will also conduct legal research to determine the law's application to your case Once they have gathered enough information, they will file a lawsuit against the defendant The complaint will explain the legal reasoning behind the circumstances that led to the accident and demand compensation from the defendant for your losses The defendant could "answer" the complaint, admit responsibility for the accident, or file a counterclaim against you trying to shift liability to you or a third party Discovery is a long-winded process where all parties exchange information on the case The Defendant must provide all the information requested in the complaint, in addition to information regarding their insurance coverage as well as the facts of the matter The Plaintiff must provide their own evidence, too During this stage of litigation, attorneys can question witnesses or experts in person The testimony is recorded and transcribing and is then used at trial Attorneys can also utilize different documents, including texts and social media posts messages, as part of their case During the discovery phase It is not uncommon for the attorney representing the defendant to attempt to shift blame onto you or another party This is why it is vital to be transparent with your lawyer To ensure you get the best settlement, they'll have to know your complete losses You should also record the sequence of events in the shortest time possible after the incident This will help you recall the details when you speak with the defendant or their insurance company It is essential to keep this record updated especially when your injuries get worse or get better In many cases, Defendant might try to settle without court This is often easier and cheaper than going to court However, if the Defendant is not satisfied with the settlement, they might decide to appeal The process of appealing is often lengthy and costly for both parties This can delay the final payout for months or even years To avoid this, it's essential to speak with an experienced lawyer early in the process Prepare for trial As the date for trial approaches, it's important for attorneys to make sure they address every task required to prepare the case This includes making lists of witnesses, expert witnesses and other evidence, arranging and organising visual aids; and making detailed trial bundles Trial preparation is a complex and extensive task The goal is to present a a complete and compelling case for you, based upon the evidence and witness testimony Your lawyer will require extensive research and collect all relevant documents such as medical records, photos of the scene of the accident and police reports, repair bills for your car or other property such as insurance coverage details, and other documents During this period, your lawyer will also collect witness testimony and consult with experts as required The goal is to prove that negligence on the part of the other party caused your injuries and damages The lawyers representing the defendant will also be able to cross-examine witnesses, make objections to any evidence, and present arguments After both sides have made their arguments, they will make closing statements to the jurors This is the time to summarize their arguments and convince the jury that they're on the right track You'll be required to be present for an examination prior to trial, in which an attorney representing the opposing side will ask you questions regarding your injuries and accident It is essential to be honest and cooperative throughout this process Your lawyer can guide you to ensure you answer all questions honestly, yet appear natural Your lawyer will also go over with you the kinds of questions the other side's attorneys might ask you during your EBT If you are well-prepared for the test and knowing what you can expect, you will be less stressed during the test The court will then hand down a verdict The verdict will determine the amount of you owe to cover your losses If you are unsatisfied with the outcome there are a variety of levels of appeal that you may pursue Many factors go into an effective personal injury claim The most important thing is to have an experienced and knowledgeable attorney represent you in court The legal team at Wilson Kehoe Winingham has the skills and resources required to make a strong case on your behalf Contact us today to arrange an appointment for a free case evaluation Discovery and Inspection When a lawsuit has been filed, the procedure in most courts allow our car crash lawyer to request details from the driver at fault and other outside parties that could be relevant to your case This process, known as discovery, forms the basis for negotiations on a fair settlement Written interrogatories are an effective discovery tool, as are requests for production or admissions The discovery process is the longest consuming part of a car accident case, and can include pages of questions and hours of depositions It is essential that your New York City personal injury lawyer prepares your case properly for this phase of litigation During this phase of the case the defendants are required provide information about their insurance along with witness statements and photographs The defendants must also reveal whether they have videotapes of your accident, or if they have been following you through a private investigator In some cases defendants may be forced to reveal their private social media accounts like Facebook or Twitter in the hope they have posted something in contradiction to the evidence you give at trial In certain situations, a court may require an accident victim undergo a physical or mental examination https//vimeocom/709509166 of exams aren't typical in car accidents but they are very important if the injuries you suffer have a an impact on your ability to have fun and enjoy work The legal system has robust medical privacy laws, however and an order from a court is required to conduct these kinds of exams During this discovery stage, we might request inspection of the property relevant to your case Our expert witness might want to examine a dam or reservoir if you, for instance, were to find out that your car accident happened on private property These types of requests are typically granted in the event of an issue with privacy In this stage we could also employ a tool known as a subpoena in order to collect information from individuals or businesses that aren't directly connected to your accident incident but have records that are relevant This is a lengthy, time-consuming and costly process of discovery, and courts try to limit the use of this method