Not many people are familiar with the injury compensation process because most people haven’t had to file a claim. Moreover, the majority of the individuals who have sought an injury claim didn’t get very far in the process, because upwards of 90 percent of cases are settled before ever heading to trial. Below, we take a look at the other 10 percent of cases and explain what you can expect during a personal injury trial.
What To Expect During Your Personal Injury Case
Under this scenario, let’s assume you’ve been injured and already hired representation like Hey Workers to handle your case. Here’s what would happen next:
The Investigation Period – In the days and weeks after the accident, your attorneys will review all accounts of the incident, including witness statements, police reports, photographs of property and of course your version of what transpired. They will also examine your medical records and how the injury has affected your home and work life to get a total understanding of how your whole life has been altered.
Settlement Offers – As we mentioned in the intro, about 80-90 percent of personal injury cases are settled outside of the courtroom. Your attorney will give you an honest opinion of whether the settlement offer is fair, and the risks and benefits of taking the case to trial. Here, we’re working on the assumption that you decide to go to trial.
Filing Your Claim – After the decision has been made to pass on the settlement offers, your attorney will officially file your claim in court. The sooner this is done, the better, because sometimes the statute of limitations can come into play.
Discovery – Once the claim is filed with the court, the party you are pursuing compensation from will have time to file a response to your claim. Both sides will share information with one another, including what witnesses and evidence the sides plan to introduce at trial so the other side has time to prepare a defense and interview those witnesses.
Mediation – Mediation is another chance for both sides to come to an agreement before the case goes before a judge. Both sides sit down with an independent third party to share their sides of the case, and they all work to see if a settlement can be reached. If no settlement is reached, the case goes to…
Trial – Finally, your case goes before a judge or jury. Both sides will present their cases, and the judge or jury will come to a decision. The governing body will reach a verdict and read their decision, and that will be considered the end of your case, unless either side wishes to appeal the decision, which can add months or years to your case. It’s also tough to win an appeal in these scenarios, because not only has a judge or jury issued a decision, but the appealing side already had multiple opportunities to come to a settlement agreement.
If you want experienced injury lawyer by your side during these stages of your case, look no further than Hey Workers.
