What You Should Expect From The Stages of a Personal Injury Case

Personal injury cases or accidents may occur due to various reasons but the stages in which the case progresses usually remains the same. It is important to get an overview of the different aspects involved in a Personal Injury Case. For example, when should you contact personal injury lawyer and what should you expect from the attorney are the general questions on everyone's mind before they engage with a lawyer.

It is also important for you to know about the initial court filings involved, the likely outcomes of a personal injury trial and the process of collecting the amount that was decided by the judge.

Personal Injury Trial

If you are a claimant, you’ll be given an opportunity to present your matter against the defendant in the personal injury trial. The trial would also allow the defendant an opportunity to disprove your case and defend himself/herself.

The judge or jury would inspect the evidence to conclude whether the defendant should be held legally responsible for the injuries suffered by you. It is good to know that majority of the personal injury cases get resolved before the proceedings even make it to trial. Either through alternative dispute resolution, informal settlement negotiations or dismissal of the case.

Personal Injury Lawyer

If your injury is due to someone else’s negligence, you must contact a local personal injury lawyer or attorney to discuss your legal options. Make sure that you don’t exceed the time limit for filing the case

and hence it's important that you contact your lawyer at the earliest if you were injured. Pennsylvania has a maximum of 2 years from the date of the accident that lets you file a personal injury claim, but every state is different.

Important Stages of a Personal Injury Case

• Meeting the Personal Injury Attorney: The most critical stage is to find an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer who can handle your case sensibly. You must explain the entire case in detail to your lawyer. This will help them weigh the situation and tell you what your chances are and the likely outcomes that you should be prepared for. You must follow the advice and guidance shared by your lawyer until the time the final verdict is reached.

• Initiating the Case: Your personal injury lawyer would explain the pleadings or initial court papers required to be filed in the court and prepare you for the case before the trial starts.

• Fact-Finding and Discovery: Every lawsuit involves a regular phase before the trial called "discovery". It’s the process that allows each party to collect relevant facts from the other party and prepare thoroughly for the case.

• The Resolution before Trial/Court Motions: Many cases may get resolved by a motion to dismiss or through other motions which may request the court to dismiss the case before trial. While deciding a motion, the court would analyze the facts from the perspective more favorable to the petitioner

• Settlement: Majority of legal cases arising from personal injuries get resolved in the litigation process through a settlement negotiated mutually among the parties.

• Trial Proceedings: Trial is the opportunity for both the parties to present their respective cases and arguments in the court. After hearing the arguments, the judge would consider whether the defendant is responsible for the accident or personal injury caused to the claimant. The judge would also decide the amount of money the defendant should pay.

• Collecting Money after Judgment: You may be required to take further steps and incur further expenses, despite winning the case if the defendant refuses to pay the damage amount  

• Appealing a Decision or Judgment: The losing party may appeal to the higher court for getting the decision reversed.

As you can see there’s a lot going on before, during and after a trial. The evidence and the reasoning to back your case should be airtight for you to have a chance to receive the right amount of compensation. Give us a call at 844-777-2529 to find out how we can help you out during these troubled times.