It’s estimated that there are over 60 million car accidents each year. While the majority of these accidents consist of minor fender benders, a good portion of them cause devastating injuries and massive property damage.
If you were involved in one of these types of accidents, you might be considering a car accident lawsuit. However, a lawsuit isn’t something you should take lightly.
So, what does the average car accident lawsuit process look like, and should you hire a lawyer to help you with your auto accident? In this guide, we’ll answer these questions so you can decide whether or not you want to file a complaint.
Filing, Serving, and Responding to the Complaint
The first thing you will do when filing a lawsuit is work with a car accident lawyer to create a document known as a complaint or petition. This should contain information like the basics of the case, the parties involved, why the defendant is responsible due to negligence, and the vehicle accident injuries you sustained.
Depending on where you’re filing, you will also need additional documents. For example, here in Los Angeles, these are all the documents you will need to begin a case.
Then, you need to serve a copy of the complaint to the defendant. Then the defendant will respond to the complaint with either a motion (asking for dismissal) or an answer.
Discovery
During the discovery phase, you’ll begin building your lawsuit case. During this phase, both parties will exchange relevant information and evidence. This is important to give all parties involved a fair opportunity to plan the strategy behind their case.
It’s also important to note that before the trial either side may try to settle talks and offers. If your lawyer has used the best strategies to maximize your settlement, they might recommend that you take the offer.
Trial
After the discovery phase comes the trial. Both sides will present their arguments and evidence to a judge and jury.
Then a verdict will be reached. It’s important to note that either side can prolong the case by appealing the decision to a higher court.
Why You Need a Good Car Accident Lawyer
It can be difficult to know when to call a auto accident lawyer if you’re trying to navigate the claims process. However, if you decide you want to consider a lawsuit, you need one.
This starts with creating and filing the necessary documents. Then, during the discovery and trial periods, they’ll negotiate, argue, and represent you throughout the entire process.
Unless you have extensive law experience, this isn’t something you can handle on your own. And even then, you need a car accident attorney who is emotionally removed from the case to negotiate calmly, but effectively, on your behalf.
Want to Learn More About the Car Accident Lawsuit Process? Contact Us
We hope this guide helped you learn more about the average car accident lawsuit process. Here at the Law Offices of Ramtin Sadighim, we know how stressful these types of accidents can be.
Often, you’re so busy dealing with injuries and recovery you don’t have much time or energy to devote to the case. That’s why our experienced car accident attorneys are dedicated to taking some of the stress off your plate.
If you’re ready to get the compensation you deserve due to another’s negligence, contact us here or call 888.999.8744 today.
Individualized care is our specialty at the Law Offices of Ramtin Sadighim. As an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney, Mr. Sadighim understands that every client, case, and circumstance needs a different approach for the best results.
