As was already noted, an experienced vehicle accident lawyer deals daily with personal injury claims and knows how to negotiate with insurance providers to secure the greatest settlement offer for their client. You might be wondering, though, what steps an auto accident lawyer will do on your behalf after you hire them. Even while each accident has its own unique set of circumstances, you may anticipate certain practises and litigation standards from the lawyer handling your case.
- Collecting the Evidence: Your lawyer will start gathering all of your case’s evidence as soon as you hire them. Your account of the incident’s specifics, your medical history and expenses, the police report, and witness testimonies are all included in this. If the other party involved in the accident has also hired an attorney, your lawyer will get in touch with them. Additionally, your attorney might go back to the accident site and document it with photos as proof. In some circumstances, your lawyer might get in touch with specialists who can offer more context for your case.
- Send the Demand Letter: Your vehicle accident lawyer will create and send a demand letter to the insurance company or the lawyer for the person who caused the accident after gathering all of the relevant information. A demand letter is a formal document that details the circumstances of the claim and the associated losses. Your lawyer will first describe the financial losses you incurred as a result of the accident. Economic damages include past, present, and future medical expenses as well as property damage, missed wages, and lost earning potential. Non-economic damages include emotional distress and grief. Both play a significant role in the settlement talks. The settlement sum your lawyer is demanding on your behalf will be included at the end of the demand letter. The insurance provider has three options: accept the settlement, seek a lower settlement sum, or decline the proposal.
- Filing a Lawsuit: If the insurance company and your lawyer are unable to reach a settlement, your attorney will start completing the required papers to have your case tried in court.
- Discovery: Following the filing of a lawsuit, both parties will engage in a phase known as discovery. In attempt to find evidence that bolsters their claims, attorneys from both parties will disclose all of the accident-related paperwork they have obtained throughout discovery.
- The Trial: If none of the aforementioned litigation processes result in a settlement for your case, your lawyer will go to trial, where a judge or jury will decide the amount of your payout. Each case goes through the same trial phases. Unless your case will be resolved by a judge, lawyers will first choose the jury. Following the selection of the jury, each attorney will present an opening statement, which will be followed by witness testimony, cross-examinations, and closing arguments. The judge will then instruct the jury on relevant legal principles and how to reach a decision. The jury will then deliberate and deliver its decision.
Although the majority of vehicle accident cases are resolved out of court, this does not mean that you should accept a settlement offer that is less than what you had originally requested. This is why you need a qualified auto accident lawyer on your side.
One particular talent that many people lack is the ability to negotiate. Although Ali Awad is a skilled and fair negotiator, he won’t hesitate to represent his clients in court if necessary to secure the highest settlement possible for their losses and injuries.