Between 20 and 50 million people suffer injuries or disabilities in motor vehicle accidents each year. Fortunately, if a negligent driver has caused you to suffer serious injuries, it is within your rights to seek financial compensation for your injuries by filing a personal injury claim.
Here’s a look at what the personal injury lawsuit process involves and what steps you need to follow to make it a successful one for you.
Let’s get started!
Secure a Reputable Attorney
This is the first and most important step in filing a personal injury claim. That’s because not all attorneys who have a willingness to take on your case can handle it competently.
Your first interaction with an attorney should ideally be a free initial consultation. This consultation will allow you to learn about how the attorney’s firm works. You’ll also be able to share with the attorney important pieces of information from your car crash, including your police crash report and related medical records.
After examining the information you have presented, the attorney can tell you whether you should move forward with a personal injury claim.
File Your Important Documents
After you have decided to file a personal injury claim related to your car accident, you, or preferably your attorney, will have to file pleadings, which include a petition or complaint. The purpose of these documents is to identify the plaintiff and defendant as well as establish the case’s legal basis.
In the complaint, you’ll also find a section where you can explain what you’d like the civil court to demand of the defendant. For instance, you can spell out how much compensation you wish to receive. It’s best to work with an attorney to ensure you get the most from your claim.
Additional documents that are an important part of this process include a court summons. This document notifies the defendant of your claim as well as what consequences they’ll face if they don’t respond to it. If the defendant doesn’t respond, the case could still be decided in their absence.
Additional Considerations
After you have submitted every required document, the person who caused your car crash will be served a summons featuring a notice of your lawsuit.
Note that it’s critical that you have an attorney file your claim for you. No, it’s not required. But it is a smart move because a single mistake could cause your litigation process to slow down, you to settle for less than you deserve, or your claim may ultimately be denied.
Herrman & Herrman Can Help with Your Personal Injury Case
If you’ve suffered an injury in a car crash, it’s paramount that you seek damages as soon as possible. Fortunately, you don’t have to navigate the personal injury lawsuit process on your own.
Contact Herrman & Herrman today at (361) 792-3669 for a free consultation!
