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The Intake Process for Car Accident Litigation A lawyer that specializes in litigation involving car accidents can help you determine the strength of your case is, and how the settlement might be worth. This is only possible if all the information you need is available. Discovery is the first step of an auto accident case. In auto accident attorneys spokane valley , attorneys and their teams communicate with each other and ask questions under an oath. Documentation A lot of the work involved in a car accident case is collecting documentation. This may include evidence like photographs, medical records, or witness statements. The more documentation that you have the more convincing your case. A law enforcement report is the very first document you should have. The police officer who arrives at the scene of an accident will usually prepare a report. It will provide important information about the accident and the person responsible for it. Your attorney may also make use of an official report from law enforcement to gather additional evidence if necessary. For instance, if an incident took place in a commercial or office, an employee working at the location might have recorded footage of the incident. If this is the case, you should seek a copy from the company. You should also document the expenses you incur due to the accident. This can include medical bills and records of your treatment, receipts for medication rental car expenses and in-home assistance or care as well as transportation costs and much more. It is also important to document any income you lose due to your injury. This could include old pay stubs and tax returns. If you can, get the names of any witnesses to the incident as well. These witnesses can be important sources of information in your case, particularly those who are able to give evidence at trial. It is important to keep in mind that witnesses may alter their accounts and forget details regarding the accident as time passes. Intake and Investigation The process of intake is vital to receiving an adequate amount of compensation for your injuries sustained in an accident, whether you have submitted an insurance claim or you are suing the person at fault. Your lawyer will begin by looking over your medical records and then obtaining copies of accident reports as well as other evidence. They will also go to and document the accident scene. This information will allow them to determine the severity of the harm you've suffered in terms of future and current costs for your physical or emotional suffering. They will then review your financial losses to determine the value of your case. Your damages can include not just your current and future medical expenses as well as lost income and property damage. Your lawyer will also conduct an investigation into the incident, which includes interviewing witnesses and analyzing all available evidence. They will also take driving and cell phone records of the at-fault drivers to determine how they operated their vehicle at the time. This is particularly crucial if the crash involved an Uber or Lyft vehicle or any other evidence that suggests the driver was working, as it could affect the ability of them to pay damages. As part of the process of discovery the lawyer will inquire about the defendant's criminal and traffic offense records. In general, these information are not admissible in court, however they could be helpful to impeach the defendant's credibility during cross examination. Negotiating a Settlement After you have received your medical records, it is possible to begin settlement negotiations. In the beginning, the insurance company may make an offer that is often considerably lower than what you requested in your letter. This is a tactic to assess how strong your case is. In your counteroffer, it's crucial to emphasize the most important points you have in your favor. For example, the insurer was at fault and that there were severe injuries and expensive medical expenses. In the end, back and forth bargaining should result in an amount that is both fair and reasonable. A skilled accident lawyer can successfully argue your claim's merits including presenting evidence to prove your losses. This may include photos of the car damage as well as a police report and witness testimony. We know how to calculate various aspects of your claim, including loss of income along with pain and suffering as well as a police report. If at this point the insurance company refuses to provide a reasonable amount, we may choose to start a lawsuit in the courtroom. A trial usually lasts between one and two days and is heard either by a judge or a jury. If your case is settled prior to this phase, it can take several months. Or, your lawyer may be in a position to file a motion for summary judgment. This means presenting all of the evidence in your favor and arguing that it's impossible for the other side to prevail. Filing a Lawsuit In a majority of cases involving car accidents the parties can resolve their disagreement outside of court. Our team will help you negotiate with the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident or directly with the person at fault. However, if an agreement cannot be reached our lawyers will initiate an action against the defendant. The Complaint contains your claims and allegations regarding the accident and why you are entitled to compensation. The defendant is served the Complaint, and given a certain amount of time to answer. The discovery stage is when our attorneys and the defendant begin to exchange documents and other material while asking questions through interrogatories or depositions. Our team will inquire to the lawyer of the defendant regarding their view of the events, including the injuries you've sustained and the way they believe it happened. We will also seek out expert opinions to support our position. During the process of discovery, your lawyer may submit legal documents, also known as motions to the court for a judge to decide on. This could include asking the court to block evidence or schedule a trial. It can take up to an entire year for the discovery process to be completed and a trial date to be set. It is imperative to speak with an experienced Long Island auto accident attorney early during the process.