What to Expect in a Personal Injury Lawsuit

The personal injury claim process is a very interesting procedure that is usually not very clear to most people. The process can vary slightly depending on the circumstances of your case, but here we will discuss the general process for a personal injury lawsuit timeline.

personal injury law

What are the Steps in a Personal Injury Claim?

After your initial injury, you will need to seek medical treatment to document your injuries. The injuries will need to be substantial enough that they have caused significant financial hardships. Immediately after this, you should consult with a lawyer. 

Initial Attorney Consultation

During your initial consultation, you will discuss the major details of your case. You will present the evidence you have to the attorney so they can go over it in detail. The attorney will let you know if you have a case and the damages you can seek. This is your opportunity to ask questions and negotiate the attorney’s fees. Once everything is settled, you will sign an agreement for services with the attorney and they will begin working on your case. 

Negotiating for a Settlement

After reviewing all of the evidence, your attorney will attempt to reach a settlement. Your attorney may discuss the case with another attorney, an insurance company, or a private party. 

If settlement negotiations are successful, both sides will sign an agreement and the settlement will be complete. However, if this is unsuccessful, the next step may be to bring your case before the courts. 

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

You have to file the claim with your local court. The case must be filed before a period of time called “the statute of limitations” ends. This is very important because if you wait too long to file a claim, you could lose your legal rights. 

What to Expect from Personal Injury Trial Procedures

Both parties will file the necessary paperwork with the courts and undergo the discovery process. This can include interrogations, depositions, and gathering other evidence such as documents, videos, etc. 

During this time, the court will mandate that the parties continue to negotiate a settlement. In fact, the court may also order both sides to undergo mediation. All of this is done to try to spare the expense of a civil trial complete with a jury.

If it does proceed to a jury trial, the attorneys will argue the evidence in the case before a jury. Your attorney may include expert testimony to help prove the severity of the injuries and the impact they had on your finances.

If your case is successfully argued before the courts, they will find the other party liable to pay damages. You will then receive the compensation you are entitled to. However, the time from when you make an injury claim to actually receiving the money can be quite lengthy. So, be prepared to wait for a little while. Your lawyer should be able to tell you how long it will be before you get your money.

What Information is Needed in a Personal Injury Claim?

Before a person can commence filing a claim for a personal injury, they must first learn about the various personal injury laws in Florida. The first step is to collect all the necessary information to prepare the case. This includes:

  • Police reports
  • Photographs and videos
  • Victim and witness statements
  • Medical records for treatments, lab reports, and medications

After gathering all the needed documents to initiate the claim, one should then submit these to a personal injury attorney. The attorney will then prepare you for the next steps in your case.

What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?

In legal terms, a personal injury attorney is known as a “personal representative” of a client. A personal injury attorney represents a client in all matters of law. They are responsible for protecting their clients and representing them in the courts when they are involved in a personal injury case. 

There are many different types of cases that require the expertise of a personal injury lawyer, and most of these cases deal with an individual who has been injured through the negligence of another person or company. The first step to filing a personal injury claim is to contact a professional personal injury attorney. They will assess your case, answer any questions you might have, and guide you through the process from beginning to end. You’re not legally obligated to get a lawyer to represent you in your personal injury claim. However, it is highly advised that you do have one.

How do I Know if I Have a Personal Injury Case?

If you are harmed through no fault of your own, then you likely have a personal injury case. Your case may involve one or more of the following:

  • You were injured because of a defective product.
  • you have been injured because of being exposed to workplace toxicity
  • You have suffered an attack of some sort at the hands of another person.
  • You were in an accident that was the result of someone else’s negligence.

Hiring an attorney is the best way to find out whether you have a case, what type of case, and the best way to pursue the case.

At the law firm of Darrigo & Diaz, we have expertise in representing clients in personal injury cases. We’ve been serving the Tampa Bay area for more than 20 years and successfully recovered millions for our clients. We can provide a free consultation where we will discuss your case in confidence. For a free, no-obligation consultation regarding your case, contact us 24/7 by calling (813) 774-3341 to discuss your legal options right over the phone.

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