What To Expect During A Car Accident Lawsuit?

Q: What Should I Expect During A Car Accident Lawsuit?

Car accident claims are very complex. Different cases can require different strategies and tactics. One thing that’s probably for sure – you’re not an expert car accident injury lawyer, and you’re not totally sure what to expect. Here are a few things that you might want to keep in mind if you are pursuing legal action…

Expect There May Be Pushback From Insurance Companies Or Other Attorneys

Insurance companies commonly employ strategies to reduce or avoid paying the claims of injury accident victims and often have teams of defense lawyers willing to aggressively litigate against the plaintiffs. It is usually recommended that you seek the advice and counsel of a car accident attorney before trying to deal with insurance companies or other attorneys on your own.

Expect To Identify All Liable Parties

You must identify and name every party that contributed to your accident’s cause in your lawsuit. In some cases, multiple third parties might share some of the responsibility for a car accident in addition to the at-fault driver.

For example, some of the potentially liable parties in a car accident might include the following:

• The driver
• The driver’s employer if the driver was acting in the course and scope of his or her job
• Manufacturers of defective parts
• Entities responsible for maintaining the roads
• The car’s owner if the car was loaned to someone else who caused the accident

If you fail to name a liable party, your gross verdict amount will be reduced by the percentage of fault that the jury attributes to that party.

Expect To Possibly Deal With Multiple Doctors

The strength of your case and potential recovery amount may rely on the nature of the injuries that were sustained during the car accident. Because of this, your case may require a thorough analysis be done by a number of different medical doctors and specialists.

You’ll need to be diligent in making it to appointments and documenting everything you can for your attorney to use and reference throughout the case. It is also possible that either direct or indirect testimony from these doctors may be warranted in your case.

Expect To Need To Be Patient

We understand that these situations are tough… you’ve been injured and are awaiting news on an extremely important matter. Our attorneys do everything possible to expedite the legal process, but these cases take time.

It’s usually best to expect to need to be patient going into a case… everything that can be done, will be done, but the legal process can take a while, especially for complex cases.

Expect To Provide Documents

Make sure you document anything and everything; it’s always better to have too many documents than not enough. You’ll never know just what might come in handy for your attorney while he is working on your case.

Your lawyer will let you know exactly what’s required from you should you retain one, but a few things you’ll want to hold onto might include (if available and if possible):

• Photographs of the incident
• Names of any witnesses
• Police reports
• Video of the incident
• Medical records
• Detailed records of conversations with medical doctors
• Medical bills
• Drivers license and insurance information of all involved parties
• Letters from insurance companies
• Detailed records of conversations with insurance companies / other attorneys
• If forced to miss work, detailed records of dealings with your employer and/or workers comp

Expect That You May Need To Deal With Workers Comp

If your accident happened while you were working, you might also have to deal with workers’ compensation hearings.

What You Should Expect Out Of Your Car Accident Attorney

Each law firm is different, but the car accident attorneys at Zukerberg & Halperin promise the following…

Trustworthy Representation

These cases require an extreme level of legal prowess in order to maximize the likelihood of success and get you the most money for your injuries. Our attorneys provide just that with over 50+ years of successful trial experience.

Expert Counsel

You’ll need advice on matters both in and out of the courtroom. Which doctor should I see? What should I tell my employer? Should I speak to the insurance company? Should I make a statement on record? Should I get a second opinion from a different specialist?

Rest assured that questions such as these will arise; you’ll want an expert’s opinion on how to navigate each of those situations.

Full Transparency

Your attorney should be open and up-front about your case from start to finish. Our lawyers empathize with every one of our injured clients completely, but it’s our duty to never sugar-coat anything. We’re straight-shooters and believe it’s extremely important that you remain abreast on your case – even if it that means delivering less-than-stellar news or perspective.

Compassionate Attorneys, But Aggressive

You probably don’t want just another “ambulance-chasing” attorneys who’s out for a big pay day.

Our attorneys truly care for our clients… we empathize entirely with your situation and promise to give you the attention you deserve. But, make no mistake, we’re aggressive in the courtroom. Our firm will fight hard to get the money and justice you deserve.

The Bottom Line On Car Accident Cases

Regardless of how your accident occurred, you will need to make certain that your medical expenses are handled properly and that proper documentation is kept during the process. Getting help from Zukerberg & Halperin can allow you to concentrate on your recovery while letting your attorneys negotiate and handle your case for you.