San Jose Car Accidents – A Overview Timeline of an Injury Lawsuit
If you have experienced injuries after a San Jose car accident, you may be wondering what happens next. You could be dealing with a great deal of uncertainty about your future, especially if your injuries are severe. You might be disabled or disfigured, and you may be wondering about how you will continue to live your life after this incident. You may be unsure about the financial implications of your accident. Perhaps you are facing a tremendous amount of medical bills, and you have months of missed wages as a result of your injury. There might also be a considerable degree of uncertainty from a mental and emotional perspective. When will you start to feel less traumatized about what happened? Could you be left with a permanent case of PTSD?
These are all valid questions, and sometimes it is best to consult with a professional who can provide you with an accurate timeline of your next steps. Many of your concerns can be alleviated with a personal injury claim. This legal option allows you to receive compensation for your injuries, and this could make your future a lot less uncertain. You can receive compensation to cover your medical expenses, and you can also receive compensation to help with missed wages.
When you connect with an experienced personal injury attorney, you can start to gain an understanding of how the next few weeks and months will play out. Our legal professionals can explain the entire process of a personal injury claim in a clear, concise manner. They can answer all of your questions, and they will do their best to address all of your concerns. If you are going to pursue a personal injury lawsuit, it makes sense to work with an attorney who specializes in car accident personal injury cases, such as Mary Alexander & Associates.
Common Injury Accident Case Milestones
The Accident – The timeline begins with the accident itself. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be rushed straight to a hospital after the accident. If not, you may have the opportunity to collect evidence from the scene. Some plaintiffs are able to take photographs or get contact information from nearby witnesses. This can prove to be quite useful in the later stages of the overall personal injury lawsuit process.
Medical Treatment – The next phase is getting medical treatment. Although this might seem like it has nothing to do with the overall legal process, it is a crucial source of evidence. If you do not receive medical treatment, it becomes difficult to establish that an injury ever occurred in the first place. When you receive treatment from a healthcare professional, your medical records clearly state the severity of your injuries. You may also get access to medical images such as X-rays and MRIs. Your attorney can use all of this evidence to your benefit.
Finding an Attorney – While you recover from your injuries, you may have the opportunity to start looking for a lawyer. Ideally, you should choose a lawyer who specializes in the specific type of injury you have suffered. For example, it does not make sense to hire a lawyer who specializes in medical malpractice if you have suffered a car accident injury.
Collecting Evidence – After you have enlisted the help of a qualified, experienced attorney, you can begin to collect and compile evidence in an efficient manner. Your attorney will probably ask you for copies of your medical records and any photographs from the scene of the accident. They will also do their own investigations into the matter and find evidence independently. The best attorneys are able to dig up evidence that can help your case significantly.
Sending the Demand Letter – Based on the evidence and the circumstances of the accident, your attorney will draft a demand letter with the total dollar amount of your damages. This letter is then sent to an insurance company or an at-fault party.
Negotiating a Settlement – More often than not, the at-fault party will be represented by an insurance company. This insurance company will be responsible for negotiating a settlement. If you accept the settlement, you never actually have to go to court. However, it is important to negotiate with insurance companies in an effective manner. Their main goal is to save money, which means they will offer you the lowest settlement amount possible. On the other hand, these insurance companies usually want to avoid going to trial at all costs because they understand that a jury could award you a much higher sum.
Filing the Lawsuit – You can decide whether you want to accept the settlement offer or not. If you are not satisfied, your attorney can take things one step further and file a lawsuit. This means you will be going to court.
Discovery – The discovery phase occurs before the trial, and this is when both sides have a chance to collect evidence. Both parties must share all of their evidence with each other before the trial begins.
Further Negotiations – During this process, you still have an opportunity to continue with negotiations and settle out of court. When insurance companies see that you are serious about going to trial, they will often offer you a more favorable settlement amount in order to avoid this legal process.
The Trial – The last step is the trial itself. During this process, both sides will have the opportunity to present their evidence and voice their central argument. A judge and jury will then have the final say when it comes to how much money you will receive.
Enlist the Help of a Qualified Attorney Today
If you have been searching the San Jose area for a qualified, experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you with this situation, look no further than Mary Alexander & Associates. Thanks to a wealth of experience with car accident injuries and personal injury lawsuits, we are well equipped to handle your case in an efficient manner. We understand that the future can seem uncertain after experiencing such a traumatic incident. Remember, there is help available to injury victims in San Jose. With the help of our expert legal team, you can approach the next few months and weeks in a confident manner. Reach out today, and we can explain the entire process during your consultation.
