A personal injury lawyer will carefully assess your case based on the available evidence and the information you provide. After reviewing your case, they can help set a personalized plan and help outline your expectations about the legal pursuit.
Statute of Limitations
If you were harmed in a personal injury accident in California, there is a deadline for filing against the at-fault party. In most cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to seek compensation. However, this limit can change based on the specifics of your case.
Contact a personal injury lawyer in Palm Desert to learn what statute of limitations applies to you. After a careful review of your case, an attorney can determine the deadline for filing against the at-fault party.
It is crucial to file all the paperwork within the set timeframe. If you do not respect the statute of limitations for your personal injury suit, your case will be dismissed and you will not be able to recover. However, an attorney can help you stay on track and meet all the important deadlines.
Documentation
One of the primary things a personal injury lawyer will be looking at is the documentation for your case. At this stage, it is crucial to consider how the available evidence matches up with your version of the events. Your personal injury attorney can help review the data you gathered about the crash and help you obtain more, if necessary.
Medical History
Along with documentation, a personal injury lawyer will want to know all about your medical history before proceeding with a lawsuit. They’ll access records of your medical history and look at how the accident impacted your health.
It is crucial to gather all the medical documentation linked to the injuries you suffered in the accident, including:
- Hospitalization receipt
- Pharmacy receipts
- Medical test results
- Physical therapy
- Physician diagnosis
A lawyer experienced in injury lawsuits will also work with medical experts to strengthen your case and deliver findings and conclusions supporting your claim. Medical specialists often serve as expert witnesses who offer their professional input on the matter.
Witnesses
A personal injury lawyer will want to know if any witnesses are willing to testify. They’ll want to talk with them to understand what they saw and heard. This is about more than just asking for their testimony; it’s about understanding them, their back story, reliability, and potential impact on your case.
Evidence
A personal injury lawyer will look for evidence that will support your claim. For example, if you were in an accident and suffered a back injury, you may have had to care for your whiplash injury.
If so, your attorney will go beyond X-rays, medical reports, and treatments. They will make inquiries regarding how the whiplash affected your ability to work, and how it changed your everyday life and impacted your lifestyle. All this evidence will most likely amount to demanding pain and suffering compensation.
Along with looking for supporting evidence to strengthen your claim, a personal injury lawyer will also seek evidence to break your opponent’s defense.
The Location
Your attorney will want to know where your accident happened and what jurisdiction handles your case. They’ll want to see if any geographical considerations may affect your case and how they can assert your rights and prove their case given the circumstances. For example, the statute of limitations changes between states.
Insurance Policies
A personal injury lawyer will analyze your insurance policy and the other party’s policy to prepare for negotiations. Most insurers will try to deny your claim altogether, while others will make small but quick offers hoping you will accept the money. Let your attorney handle every aspect of dealing with the defendant’s insurance adjusters and lawyers.
Bottom Line
It’s essential to keep in mind that a personal injury lawyer will be assessing your case based on the information they have.
The bottom line is that you need to come up with a solid argument, in addition to documentation, if you want your case to be successful or have a chance of getting the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses. A personal injury lawyer will serve as your private guide through this legal journey.
Mark Scott
With a law degree under his belt, Mark Scott understood very early that law communication was a relatively neglected area. He decided to help people by “translating” the language and offering information and advice in a clear, useful, and actionable manner. For this reason, instead of finding him in court, you will most likely find his name online, where he is very active and thriving as a legal columnist. His part of making the world a better place is to make the law a less convoluted maze. He aims to make it easier for people to understand when and how to seek legal counsel, how to proceed in a significant number of legal matters, and to find the proper resources so they can stand up for their rights.
