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How to Build a Strong Auto Accident Case Car accidents typically involve multiple parties. A jury may decide to apportion damages between different defendants. Your lawyer will request financial documents, speak with witnesses, obtain records from medical professionals and experts, take your deposition and more. The process of discovery can be as short as a few months until a full year. Trials can take a couple of hours or even years and appeals can add months or even years to the case. Gathering Evidence One of the most important steps in an auto crash case involves gathering evidence. This evidence could include witnesses' testimony, physical evidence of the damage medical records, as well as financial documents for your losses. Photographic evidence of the scene of the accident is vital. Weather, skid marks and damage to both vehicles and the location of the vehicles can be all factors in determining the reason for the accident as well as who was at fault. The black box information of the vehicle of the other driver can be very useful in determining the speed and whether the brakes were in use or not when the accident occurred. It is recommended to collect witness information at the scene of the accident while it is fresh in their minds. This includes those driving, walking on sidewalks, or even in businesses and restaurants who witnessed the accident. Inviting witnesses to record their testimony on video is also a great idea. A police report can be an important piece of evidence in any lawsuit or claim related to a car accident. It will typically contain crucial information about the accident like the names of everyone involved along with their phone numbers as well as insurance policy information. It will also include the officer's opinion about how the accident occurred and who was at fault. In need of medical attention In any car crash, seeking medical attention is the top priority. You must visit a doctor for an exam, receive treatment and document your treatment to prove you were injured. This can also help you avoid insurance companies claiming that you were not injured in the crash. Based on the severity of your injuries, it is possible that you need to visit an emergency room. This is crucial, particularly for serious injuries like injury to the head or spinal cord which could be fatal. You are also able to seek treatment with your primary care physician for injuries that are not serious. Generally speaking, PCPs tend to refuse treatment for auto accident victims than in the past. If you have a doctor who refuses to treat your needs, you may want to try visiting an urgent care clinic. These clinics usually offer extended hours and accept walk-ins. They are more lenient than PCPs when it comes time to bill for car accident-related treatments. In some cases, your doctor may refer you to a specialist to treat or treat your illness. This is a great way to extend the timeframe of your treatment and increase the chance of receiving an appropriate and fair amount of compensation. Tell a doctor that you seek treatment because of an accident, and then pay the bill in the future from the settlement. Contacting an attorney You should seek out a car accident attorney as soon as you can following the accident. The earlier you have an attorney working on your case and the more evidence they are able to gather and the more convincing your claim will be. The lawyer you choose to work with will first request access to your medical records as well as other documentation relating to the accident. This will help them paint a a colorful illustration of your injuries as well as the impact that your injuries have affected your life. Your lawyer will also investigate the incident in-depth. This may include visiting the scene, speaking with police and conducting interrogations. It could also involve consulting with experts such as mechanics or medical professionals. An attorney can also help you understand how insurance companies determine the amount of compensation they offer for your pain and suffering. It can be difficult to put a dollar value for these non-economic losses especially when the injuries are not immediately apparent because of adrenaline or they take days or even weeks to develop, for example, back or neck sprains, or concussions. Furthermore, your attorney will assist you in negotiating the insurance policy of the driver at fault damages, statements or examinations, keeping evidence, determining liability, the calculation of damages, case evaluation and settlement valuation, which will maximize your settlement recovery, examining legal and correspondence documents, and creating releases. A lawyer who can handle the many complicated aspects of your car accident will save you time and money, as well as stress. A knowledgeable attorney will help prevent you from making common mistakes that can hurt your claim. Filing an action If the negligence of another person caused a car accident which left you injured, it makes sense to ask for compensation for medical bills along with the cost of vehicle repairs as well as emotional stress. If an insurance provider refuses to negotiate a fair settlement then you can bring a lawsuit to court to seek damages. They are filed in a process called civil litigation, and the specific rules of states differ slightly. However, a typical suit starts with the plaintiff filing a lawsuit in court. The court is served with the complaint to the party responsible (defendant). auto accident law firm huntington beach will outline all the legal reasons why you are entitled to compensation and your rights to seek damages. Answers are documents that the defendant employs to address the plaintiff's assertions. The defendant acknowledges or denies any allegations mentioned in the complaint. They also list any legal defenses to the case. The next step is discovery. In discovery, you may ask for documents and information to be provided by the attorney of the defendant and witnesses via written questions, also known as interrogatories or by conducting oral interviews, referred to as depositions. Depositions are often used to gather the testimony of witnesses, police officers who investigated the accident, and medical personnel that treated you for injuries. The information you gather by your attorney during discovery will help him build a strong case for you to recover an appropriate amount of compensation in the event of an accident that causes injury to your car.