The 8-Step Process Of A Personal Injury Auto Accident Case

It’s an unfortunate reality that many of us are involved in automobile accidents, and the resulting personal injury cases can be both complicated and costly. If you’re inexperienced in this area, it may be difficult to know what steps to take following a collision due to the high cost of legal representation.

First and foremost, following a serious accident, you should obtain the best medical attention possible for your injuries. You should get in touch with your doctor to fill out any insurance forms and to determine whether or not your individual situation warrants seeking a second opinion regarding any treatment or submitting a personal injury claim. If you’ve sustained a spinal cord injury, soft tissue damage, or even head trauma, it may be beneficial to seek out a spinal cord injury lawyer at this time. Here are the eight steps of a personal injury auto accident case.

1. Initial Investigation: 

As soon as you have been involved in a car crash, it is important to take steps to preserve evidence that may be relevant to your personal injury claim. You should take photographs of the accident scene, paying special attention to the make and model of the vehicles involved, any skid marks which may have been left behind, any road hazards or debris on the ground which could have contributed to causing the collision, and anything else that seems important. In addition, you should collect as much information as possible regarding all relevant parties who were involved in the accident.

2. Treatment for Injuries:

When possible, you should seek immediate medical treatment from a chiropractor in Naples Florida. Often following a collision, the injuries you sustain are not immediately visible. Remember that any medical providers who treat you following an accident need to submit any medical records to your personal injury attorney. Your case will be much stronger if these records are available and a copy is kept with your lawyer. Also, you should get a written statement from your doctor concerning your symptoms and the treatment you are receiving following the accident.

3. File a Claim With Your Insurance Company:

You should contact your insurance company as soon as possible following a collision. Your insurance company is responsible for determining if you are eligible for benefits under your individual policy and whether or not to pay for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other expenses which may result from the accident. Keep in mind that if you do receive payment from your insurance company for any portion of your expenses, it may affect any future settlement that you receive in regard to your claim.

4. Initial Consultation With a Car Accident Attorney:

At this time, you should contact an attorney who has experience in dealing with auto accident cases. There are many different ways to deal with a case, including hiring a clearwater car accident attorney without the assistance of a paralegal or legal assistant. If you choose to work with a paralegal or legal assistant, he or she will review all of your insurance claim paperwork with you and assist you in gathering information related to the accident.

5. Liability and Medical Investigation:

If you were injured in an accident that involved a pedestrian, bicyclist, or another road user, your case might involve determining fault for the accident. Oftentimes in these cases, the driver with the worst record will be held responsible for their actions and any injuries sustained by the other party. If you don’t have any proof of who was at fault for your injuries, you may be charged with making an unwarranted claim against a person or company.

6. Settlement Demand:

You should begin the settlement process following an accident. The first step is to initiate a demand letter which is a document sent to the other party in order to warn them that you are filing a lawsuit and that they will be named as a defendant. The letter should state clearly that if there was any liability for your injuries, you would seek compensation for any future losses and expenses which have been incurred from your injuries. This letter should be completed by an attorney.

7. Case Settles, or a Lawsuit Is Filed:

If a settlement is reached with the other party, you should have your injury attorney file a suit and serve it on the defendant. If you have a written agreement or contract which involves obtaining compensation, your lawyer may be able to draft the entire agreement in exchange for a contingency fee. This would be ideal as it ensures that you won’t spend any money out of pocket during the process and that your legal team will only receive compensation if they’ve negotiated an appropriate settlement agreement for you.

8. Discovery:

During this phase of your case, your lawyer will interview the insurance companies and their representatives to determine how much compensation you should receive. They will also obtain relevant information from any other party involved in the accident, such as reports from automobile mechanics regarding vehicles involved in the crash, police records regarding the incident, etc. Once they have gathered this information, they’ll use it to build a case against the defendants in order to secure a settlement amount that is fair for damages sustained as a result of your injuries.

Conclusion:

While it is important to seek medical attention immediately following an accident, it is also important to know that your personal injury attorney should be knowledgeable about the various strategies which may be used in a collision case. If you have sustained injuries as a result of another party’s negligence, you should ensure that your legal team is familiar with your individual situation in order to obtain the compensation you deserve.