By The right injury lawyer can be a vital resource to an accident victim. An experienced New York personal injury attorney will guide victims through the often complicated legal process of seeking compensation for injuries, damages and losses suffered due to another’s negligence. The first step is to assess the strength of a case.
After a thorough review of your medical records, police reports, insurance company correspondence and other documentation, an injury lawyer Hillsboro can determine whether to file a lawsuit or pursue a settlement through the courts. In some cases, the lawyer will recommend mediation as a more cost-effective option to taking the case all the way through trial.
Once the lawyer decides to move forward, he or she will work with you to gather and organize evidence. This will include police reports, medical records, photographs of the scene of the accident, expert witness testimony, and any other relevant information you may have. The injury lawyer will then prepare a demand letter for the defendant’s insurance company. A demand letter is an official written request for the amount of compensation you are entitled to under New York law. In the event that an insurer refuses to offer a reasonable settlement, your lawyer will file a lawsuit against the defendant.
A lawsuit can take months or even years to complete. During this time, your injury lawyer will work diligently to gather all of the necessary documents and evidence for your case. In the meantime, the lawyer will prepare interrogatories, which are written questions that the other party must answer under oath, and request depositions of witnesses, which are statements made under oath in a court of law.
Throughout the litigation process, your injury lawyer will be in regular contact with you to update you on the status of your case. He or she will also negotiate with the insurance company and/or the defendants in order to reach a fair settlement. If a settlement cannot be reached, the case will proceed to trial, where the jury will determine the award of compensation to the plaintiff.
In addition to compensatory damages for your actual losses, you may be entitled to recover punitive damages, which are designed to punish the defendant in cases involving gross negligence or willful misconduct. Your lawyer will explain to you the different types of damages available under New York law and how these will apply to your specific case.
If the defendants in your case have hired a private investigator, your attorney will investigate their conduct and make sure that they are not hiding evidence or committing other violations of the law. Your attorney will also research the history of similar cases to evaluate how much a jury might award you for your pain and suffering, lost income, and other related damages.
It is important that you seek medical treatment immediately after your accident and report the accident to the authorities. This will help you document that your injuries are severe and that the other driver or other responsible party was at fault. In addition, it will provide a paper trail that you did not delay in getting treatment, which can prevent the other party from trying to argue that your injuries are not as serious as you claim.
