What Are the Parts of a Personal Injury Case?

If you have been wrongfully injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident near Gaithersburg, you might consider contacting a personal injury lawyer to help you seek compensation for medical care and other damages. While every personal injury case will be unique depending on the individual circumstances, there are some general procedures that you can expect during a case. Read on to get a closer look at the components of a personal injury case.

Medical Attention

Your immediate priority should be to seek appropriate medical care, though you will want to make sure that your care is well-documented to be sure that all the details are available when you contact an attorney.

Attorney Consultation

Most personal injury lawyers will offer a free initial consultation to discuss the viability of your case. If you do decide to pursue a case, your lawyer will gather details about the accident and your injuries or the injuries/wrongful death of a loved one you are representing. Most often, the legal fee in a personal injury cases will be based on a percentage of the settlement or trial verdict, meaning that upfront legal costs are not a factor and should not hold you back from seeking the representation you deserve.

Demand and Negotiation

Once your attorney has assembled all documentation of your injuries and losses, a demand will be made to the defendant’s insurance carrier. Typically, a claims adjustor will review the demand materials sent by your attorney. Negotiations then commence to try and settle the case outside of court. In many cases the claims representative will first request additional information about your health history or wages before completing an evaluation of your claim.

Lawsuit Filing

While most personal injury cases settle outside of court, there remain a large number of cases where a settlement may not be reached in negotiation. In these situations, your lawyer will file a lawsuit, which will commence the process of discovery. This process entails the gathering of information through depositions, document collection and review, medical examinations, and other exploration of the liability and injury issues in a case. As discovery is wrapping up, the case may be sent to mediation, which will be followed by a trial if a settlement is still not reached.

Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Car Accident?

If you've been injured in a car accident, you need to speak with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Gaithersburg office directly at 301.840.0404 to schedule your free consultation.