2. Suffering an injury after an accident can seem
overwhelming. On top of the stress and pain you are
going through, you may face filing a lawsuit. A car
accident attorney can give you the help you need. He
or she will take you through the process one step at a
time and prepare you for how your claim will
proceed. Below is a list of the basic events in your
lawsuit and what they mean.
3. Step 1 - The Summons and
Complaint
After your car accident lawyer meets with you and
investigates your claim, he/she will prepare
documents called a Summons and Complaint. These
documents officially start the lawsuit. From here on
out, you'll be known as the plaintiff, and the alleged
wrongdoer will be known as the defendant.
4. Step 2 - Service of Process
Your auto injury lawyer will arrange to serve the
defendant with your paperwork. "Service of Process"
is merely a fancy way of describing how the
paperwork gets delivered to the defendant.
5. Step 3 - The Defendant's
Response
After serving the defendant, your car accident
attorneys will await a formal response (Answer)
from the defendant. At this point, the insurance
company will likely hire a defense lawyer to work on
the defendant's behalf. The defendant's answer will
likely deny everything you claim. Do not be alarmed.
This is a standard procedure incorporated by the
defendant's legal team.
6. Step 4 - Discovery
As your auto accident attorney will explain, there are
no surprises in real litigation work. Your lawyer will
exchange and request information and documents
regarding potential witnesses and legal theories from
the other side.Your car injury lawyer is also
obligated to provide the same information to the
defense legal team. Common types of discovery
include:
7. s
- Depositions - questioning done under oath from parties or
witnesses to the case;
- Interrogatories - written questions;
- Request for Production of Documents - parties exchange
things such as witness statements, photographs, medical
records and other documentation that supports the claims or
defenses; and
- Requests for Admissions - written agreements about certain
facts that are not disputed by either party (the weather at the
time of the injury and any other contributing factors, for
example).
8. s
Your car accident attorney can explain what happens next if your
case proceeds to an actual trial.
For Legal Assistance: Please contact experienced car accident
attorneys in your area that will be in your corner. Call today as
soon as physically possible in order to preserve evidence and
witness integrity.
Resources:
http://kwjoneslaw.com/bakersfield-auto-accident-attorney.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Car-Accident-Attorney-Can-De-
Mystify-the-Legal-Process&id=7914796
