The Stages Of Personal Injury Litigation

Thursday, June 10th, 2010 at 2:17 am

Everyone knows that when you have been injured unfairly and you need to hire a lawyer so that you will be paid, but the steps involved can be confusing to many people. Knowing the stages involved in the process can help you better understand the personal injury litigation process and they work the same as a litigant or defendant.

The first step that happens once you have found your attorney is the filing of the complaint in a courthouse. One the attorney has viewed the case they will make a formal claim for damages as the result of an injury. The defendant will get a chance to reply to this and tell their version of the incident.

The next step lasts from the filing of the complaint through to the trial. With discovery and motions, both sides will gather information and facts relating to the case to prepare for trial. They may request documentation or admissions of evidence, as well as file motions that pertain to the case during this time.

Many times, your case will not go to court and will be settled before it gets to one. If you have a trial, the evidence and information is given to a jury who will give you a verdict on the case.

If the case is won by the victim, the jury awards an amount they deem appropriate for damages. They also decide the payment of the award, and it can be the amount at one time or made via payments over time.

A personal injury litigation can be a long process, and is frustrating to many people having to wait for all the steps. Finding a qualified attorney who has experience with personal injury can help to make the process go by smoother and allow you to live your life normally again.