how the right accident attorney can make or break your case

by Ms. Vickie Schmitt 7 min read

There’re numerous ways in which a personal injury attorney can either make or break your case. Handle Correspondence A crucial role of a professional personal injury attorney is handling all the correspondence relating to the insurance companies and any other parties involved and will negotiate with them on your behalf.

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What should I do if my case goes to trial?

A quality, experienced personal injury attorney will handle all correspondence with the insurance companies involved and negotiate with them on your behalf. The end goal, of course, is to get you more money from a settlement, even after paying the attorney’s fees, than you would have gotten on …

Who are expert witnesses in a car accident case?

Feb 20, 2020 · There’re numerous ways in which a personal injury attorney can either make or break your case. Handle Correspondence. A crucial role of a professional personal injury attorney is handling all the correspondence relating to the insurance companies and any other parties involved and will negotiate with them on your behalf.

What are the most important things to do to win a case?

Aug 06, 2021 · An experienced personal injury attorney will advise whether it’s more appropriate to pursue your claim in the small claims court, arbitration, or even in civil court if there has been negligence with gross recklessness involved on behalf of the driver responsible for your accident. You can check out the URL here and learn how associating with ...

What happens if you lie in a criminal case?

The Bike Accident Lawyer You Choose Can Make or Break Your Case The statistics confirm that California (Southern CA in particular) is a hotbed of bicycle accidents resulting in fatalities. Between January and May 2016, there were 40 bicycle fatalities in the area, much higher than the 21 fatalities it experienced during that same time period ...

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Why Police Reports Are Done

Under the law, police officers must investigate and file reports of auto collisions with injuries. When the police arrive at the scene of an accident, they should ideally do a complete investigation. The thoroughness of that investigation will depend on the circumstances and the officer, but there are basic details then each report should contain.

Information Included in an Accident Report

To understand why a police accident report is important to your personal injury case, it is helpful to know what information is included in reports. Police reports include the following information:

Police Reports vs. Motorist Crash Reports

The police report is the publicly filed a document prepared by the officer who responds to your accident. While these documents are important, it is not your responsibility to ensure that the report is completed and filed. Illinois law does require motorists to submit their own reports independently of the police report.

What a Police Report Can Mean to Your Case

Your attorney and the other driver’s insurance company will obtain a copy of the police report. The insurance adjuster for the other driver will review the report. In many cases, they will rely on little more than the report and an interview with their insured driver before they decide on accepting or rejecting your claim.

When the Police Report Is Not Favorable To You

There are cases when the narrative or diagram of the police report is not favorable to your personal injury case. For example, the responding officer could have inaccurately reported the locations or movements of the vehicles. The officer may have assigned blame to you for the accident even if you believe you are not responsible.

When The Report Does Not Assign Fault

Police reports typically assign fault, but not always. Sometimes officers leave their opinion out of it if they cannot draw a conclusion. The contents of a police report could still be valuable to your injury case, even if there is no finding of fault against the other driver.

Common Problems in an Accident Report

There are some common complications caused by an inaccurate police accident report. While these reports are often a useful part of your personal injury case, an error in the police report could negatively impact your chances of financial recovery.

Why Do You Need An Expert Witness?

Personal injury law often relies on expert testimony to support the claims made in a case. Experts are able to provide the details and explain complexities in a way that makes sense to judge and jury.

Why The Type Of Witness Matters

Not all expert witnesses are created equal. An expert who can testify in a copyright infringement case is quite different than one who can testify in your personal injury case. Even within the realm of personal injury, there are different types of expert witnesses.

A Good Expert Witnesses Relies On A Good Attorney

Choosing effective expert witnesses starts with choosing the right attorney. A qualified, certified trial attorney will understand the nuances of finding, vetting and preparing witnesses best suited to your case.

What Makes A Good (Or Bad) Expert Witness?

We’ve touched on a few key points that matter when it comes to choosing an expert witness, namely, that it’s important to find one who is qualified in the specialty that your case requires, and one who is credible as a witness.

Yes, Money Matters

We like to believe in equality under the law but the fact is that trials are costly endeavors. From filing fees to hiring experts, your ability to mount a successful case can depend in large part on your ability to fund it.

1. Completing and Filing Paperwork

Whether your case is going to trial or you’re going to end up settling beforehand, there will be a ton of paperwork that needs to be completed and filed. The vast amount of paperwork is enough to deter just about anyone from getting involved in the legal process.

2. Determining Financial Loss

If you’ve been a victim of personal injury, or someone you love was a victim of wrongful death, the financial loss is generally massive. These losses can include medical bills, missing work, the inability to work in the future, funeral costs, rehab, and much more.

3. Documenting Psychological Injuries

Physical injuries after an accident are a lot easier to measure than psychological injuries. For example, you can put a definite dollar sign on how much it cost to repair a broken arm.

4. Using the Right Experts

Oftentimes, if a personal injury case goes to court, experts are brought in to testify on the victim’s behalf. For example, if you were in a car accident, you may need an accident reconstruction expert to show exactly what happened during the accident.

Lawyers for Personal Injury Cases Are Essential

If you or someone you know has been a victim of personal injury, it’s important to get the proper representation in court. Lawyers for personal injury make sure you get what you’re owed after suffering financial, physical, and psychological damages.

What is the first goal of a defense attorney during a deposition?

Most defense attorneys have two main goals during a deposition. The first goal is to get your complete story.

What is a deposition in a court case?

A deposition is the process in which a witness is asked questions under oath by an attorney. Testifying at a deposition is often a mysterious and nerve racking event for most people. To give a successful deposition it is important to understand a couple of things. First, you need to know what the defense attorney is trying to accomplish ...

Can a white lie kill a case?

Even a white lie can kill your case. Once you are caught in a lie your credibility is ruined. While the truth sometimes hurts a case, it is never as bad as a lie. Every case has a weakness, so we don’t run from them with a lie, we deal with them head on with the truth. 2) Do not guess at answers.

Is a deposition a trial?

No other explanation is necessary. Always remember a deposition is not a trial. If your case goes to trial you will have an opportunity to tell your entire story through much friendlier direct examination by your attorney. 4) My fourth rule is to keep calm. Don’t get agitated by the defense attorney’s questions.

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