Step 1: The Consultation
During your first meeting, you will tell your lawyer everything about what happened in regards to your injury. Be complete and detailed in your explanation, and your attorney will typically wait until the end to ask questions and clarify information.
Your personal injury lawyer will then explain what you can expect from the case, what the timeline is estimated to be, and to never discuss the case with anyone outside your lawyer’s office. Confirm how you can contact your lawyer and when to expect updates on how your claim is progressing.
Step 2: Investigation
The investigation of your claim usually includes a review of the following, depending on your specific case.
Both your statement and those of any witnesses will be examined for continuity, potential blank spots, revealing details, and points of agreement.
If officers were on the scene, that report will be considered for their perspective as well as for any observations they may have made at the time.
- A possible visit to the scene of the incident
If a layout of the scene will help verify any details or provide a better visual understanding of what happened, then your lawyer may go to take photographs or to sketch a map of the area. This background can also help you better place yourself within the setting and possibly even allow you to better elucidate the events that transpired.
- A review of all medical reports and documents
Reports from your doctor will be essential in explaining the extent of your injuries, as well as shedding light on their origins.
- A review of appropriate laws
Various laws and precedents already in place to frame and support your case, and some may be able to provide you with better odds than others. Your attorney will evaluate which laws apply and how to demonstrate their implications most effectively.
Step 3: Settlement Talks
Hopefully, your case will reach settlement talks before too long and all the evidence and results of the investigation will be examined and discussed before a mediator. Many such cases are settled outside of a trial, when you as the plaintiff agree to give up further legal action in exchange for an agreed upon sum of money. Your attorney will counsel you regarding what to expect and give their recommendations and assessments of the likelihood of a settlement.
Your own unique case and the specific approach of your attorney means that every personal injury case looks a little different. Schedule your
free mini consultation now for a customized analysis of your case and to begin the process.]]>
