What To Expect From The Claims Process

What Should I Expect From My Injury Claim?

The accident you experienced has thrown your life into chaos. You never imagined that you would suffer a serious injury, let alone file a lawsuit against someone else. However, you have come to realize that filing a personal injury claim may be the only way to recover the compensation you need for your damages.

At Adler Law Group, LLC, our attorneys guide people just like you through the claims process. We will help you understand what to expect from the complex process as we break the legal terminology into plain English.

What Are The Steps Of An Injury Claim?

There are many types of accidents, and every accident is different. However, the legal process remains the same:

1. Demand letter

First, you and your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party. This letter will inform them that you are seeking compensation for damages caused by the accident.

2. Formal complaint

If the other party does not offer compensation, then you will file a formal complaint. This initiates the lawsuit against the defendant.

3. Discovery

In the discovery process, you and the other side obtain evidence about the case. This could include depositions, medical records and other pieces of information.

4. Settlement

You and the other party will have the opportunity to settle the lawsuit out of court. This usually involves negotiating until you reach a mutually satisfactory settlement amount. Nearly every personal injury case leads to an out-of-court settlement.

5. Trial

If negotiations do not lead to a favorable settlement, the case will go to trial. A judge, and possibly a jury, will hear each side argue its case. Then, the court will determine a verdict.

Is It Necessary To Hire An Attorney?

You may feel tempted to go it alone on your personal injury case, but this is not always wise. You should always speak to an attorney before you negotiate with the insurance company on your own. Insurance companies do not want to pay the full amount that victims need; they want to offer the lowest amount possible to make the problem go away. A lawyer will advocate for you against powerful insurance companies and other skilled attorneys for the other parties.