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What are the Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Accident victims might not be knowledgeable on how to file a personal injury lawsuit. Although every situation differs, there are some fundamental steps taken in every personal injury case.
Free Consultation with a Denver Personal Injury Attorney
The personal injury process begins when you contact a Denver personal injury attorney. When you contact a personal injury lawyer, you will probably have a free consultation to discuss your matter. Your attorney will assess the case and offer your best course of legal action. This is also a good time to decide if you and the attorney are a good fit for each other.
Be sure to bring to the consultation all your documentation regarding the accident, as well as any photos and videos.
Accident Investigation
Even though your statement will provide pertinent information, your attorney will probably need to do an accident investigation to completely expose what led to the accident and if any other parties are responsible. An experienced Denver personal injury attorney will:
- Check traffic cameras
- Collect witness statements
- Consult expert witnesses
Treatment
When you’ve been in an accident, your focus should be on the recuperation of you and anyone else involved in the accident.
Let your personal injury lawyer handle the investigation and file the insurance claim. You must adhere to your doctor’s recommended treatment to fully recover from your injuries. Additionally, keep records during your recovery that includes:
- Dates missed from work
- Monies spent on taxis, prescription medications, and medical equipment (canes, crutches, neck braces, knee braces, etc.)
- Faxes, mailing, and phone calls
This will help your lawyer have a record and make sure you get compensated for everything related to the accident.
Negotiation
Typically, when you file a claim, the insurance company will come back quickly with an offer.
Always review any settlement offers with your lawyer. You’ll want to discuss if the settlement covers the full extent of your medical expenses. If the initial settlement sounds fair to you, accept the offer and sign the paperwork.
However, most accident victims don’t accept the first offer. It usually doesn’t consider the full amount of money you need and deserves to cover your injuries. You and your lawyer should talk about how the initial offer compares to what you expected for the accident.
Settlement
A settlement agreement is prepared when negotiations with the insurance company get you adequate compensation for your injuries. Beforehand, you should receive a settlement memo for your review, outlining the terms of the settlement. The settlement memo will also include the amount of the settlement and how it will be paid out.
Litigation
Sometimes, negotiations yield no results, and a settlement agreement can’t be reached. The next step is usually to file a lawsuit for a jury trial to get a verdict, holding those accountable for your injuries.
Contact Our Denver Personal Injury Lawyers Today for a Free Consultation
If you’ve been hurt in an accident, the lawyers at Lampert and Walsh are here to help. Schedule a free consultation to speak with a personal injury attorney in our Denver office. We’ll lead you through the steps of filing your personal injury claim from beginning to end.