Car Blog

November24

Finding an experienced trial attorney is important for those who suffer personal injuries from car accidents and any other accident. Once one’s claim has been accepted as valid, and you can proceed, there are many necessary things that need to happen prior to the testing process. A good car accident lawyer will know the importance of informing the accused person that they are responsible, filing various motions, and negotiating with opposing legal counsel. If a settlement is not negotiated as fair to the plaintiff and there is sufficient evidence, the personal injury lawsuit begins. The legal team will organize any witness testimony, archive all evidence, and complete all necessary paperwork for the trial.

Personal Injury Trial: Jury Selection

Once your trial is set to continue, your legal team will select a jury. They will choose impartial people to pass judgment according to the direction and instructions of the court. However, the defense team will try to complicate the process by choosing members who can challenge the case. That is why the jury selection process is so important to determine the success of the case.

Personal Injury Trial: Case Processes

The processes of your case and the details of the car accident will vary by judge and court. Opening statements are first given before the jurors or panel of jurors. Sometimes it is possible to ask questions of certain potential jurors, other times not. Some questions might be about your age, your drinking habits, your lifestyle choices, and other things that would affect your ideology in the car accident. If the answer is not to your liking, you can excuse yourself. The legal team will explain the court processes to you before your case begins.

What Is The Voir Dire Procedure?

This process attempts to determine if members have any bias towards the claim. For example, the juror could look at whether you have ever been involved in an accident or do you have a loved one who was? Asking these personal questions allows us to get the best possible feedback and make the best decisions when it comes to choosing a jury for your case.

Personal Injury Trial: Evidence

Once the jury is chosen, opening statements are made. These opening statements are intended to appeal to the emotions of the jury. They establish the case and what is expected throughout the trial. From there, witnesses to give their testimony, which will help the jury reach a verdict at the end of the trial. Each group of lawyers asks questions of the witnesses. The process continues until there are no witnesses left and each side rests.

Final Statements And Verdict

Once all evidence has been presented, witness statements detailed, and all legal processes completed, closing arguments are heard. The legal team will attempt to discredit the defense to make your case appear as strong as possible. Once this is completed, the jurors deliberate to reach a verdict. There must be consensus for a verdict or this is an indecisive jury. If the members of the jury cannot reach a consensus, the judgment is declared null and void. In a car accident, it is best to retain a car accident lawyer to defend you to the full extent of the law.

November1

After a car crash, you can choose to work with a lawyer or deal with the defendant’s insurance company on your own. Handling the claim alone seems like a great idea because there is no stress of choosing a lawyer, or paying one.

However, the at-fault insurance company loves working with unrepresented victims because they do not know the law or the value of their claims.

When given a chance to calculate the damages, the only economic damages that come to victims’ minds are medical bills and damage to their car. The insurance company will agree to your demands because it is a small percentage of your rightful compensation.

In this article we will discuss some damages you will miss out on if you handle a car accident claim without a lawyer.

What Are These Damages That You Can Miss Out On?

1. Ongoing Medical Care Expenses

Sometimes, the type of injuries sustained after a car crash requires long-term or lifetime medication. The victim may need multiple surgeries, pain medications, or physical therapy, to mention a few. If you calculate your settlement demands based on the current pressing medical expenses, you will have to handle future medical burdens related to the injury on your own.

Unfortunately, the defendant’s insurance company will not enlighten you on this. They are out to make money. They might seem eager to handle your claim, but it is because they are benefiting.

2. Aftercare Expenses and Costs

Unfortunately, some accidents leave victims disabled and in need of long-term care. Depending on the situation, some will remain at home while others are sadly sent to a nursing facility.

As if that is not enough, unrepresented victims underestimate this damage or guess potential costs. Nursing care is expensive, and soon the bills will overwhelm your family.

3. Loss of Future Earning Potential

While some people can return to previous work or start new employment, others will never get back to work. For the latter, it means loss of future wages, and sadly, an individual who was once independent and financially stable becomes dependent.

Without experience, you will not be able to calculate your potential future wages accurately. That said, you need the help of a lawyer, who will consult with vocational experts and come up with an exact amount of how much the accident has robbed you.

4. Lost Value of the Vehicle

After a car crash, your car will be damaged, and its value reduced. In the worst scenarios, some vehicles are totalled. To recover that loss, you must claim diminished value damages. And as with the above cases, most unrepresented car accident victims do not know that they can get compensated for lost value.

To get the right estimate of diminished damages, you need an expert to calculate the value of your car before and after the accident. The compensation can help you get another vehicle or repair the old one.

5. Punitive Damages

Last but not least, car accident victims should claim punitive damages depending on the facts surrounding the case. Unfortunately, they may not understand the law, and do not know to claim. The court awards punitive damages, not just to compensate the victim for damages or injuries, but also to punish the at-fault driver and warn others against such behavior.

You Deserve Fair Compensation

We cannot foresee accidents, and they can happen to anyone, but it hits differently if they result from negligence. With all the pain and trauma, it is only fair that you get rightful compensation. However, you might not get what you deserve if you decide to handle the case independently.

The insurance company will take advantage of your naivety and ignorance, and you will miss out on multiple damages discussed above.