5 Important Things to Know When Preparing for a Personal Injury Trial

If the insurance company in a personal injury trial fails to offer you what you’re entitled to or is denying your claim altogether, you may need to proceed to the trial phase.

If that’s the case, here are a few of the many essential things you may need to know.

Litigation Can Take a While

Even though your chosen Georgia trial attorneys are working hard to get you the compensation you deserve, the litigation process can be lengthy. Sometimes, from the time you file your lawsuit to when your case is heard in court, you can be waiting up to a year or longer.

During the process, you and your legal team will journey through the many steps that lead to your trial date, such as discovery, depositions, mediation, negotiations, and any filed motions.

You May Need to Testify

As you are a witness in your own case, you may be required to testify. Your car accident lawyer will examine you during the deposition and trial phases, and the defendant’s attorney will cross-examine you.
Even though this sounds scary and stressful, your lawyer will be there to support you every step of the way. Their job is to prepare you as much as possible so that you can provide truthful and accurate answers to all questions asked of you.

Prepare for the Unexpected

Even though your personal injury case is about the injuries you sustained in an accident or event, the defendant’s lawyer may ask some unrelated and potentially even personal questions. These might be about your medical history, your annual income, where you work, and more. Your lawyer can prepare you for such questions that may catch you off guard, and may even come up with similar lines of questioning of their own.

Evidence is Important

When you first suffered injuries, you probably weren’t thinking about who was there to see it or whether you were able to gather as much evidence as possible. However, you will quickly come to learn that evidence is vital in building a solid case and receiving compensation to cover your urgent expenses.

Don’t underestimate the value of keeping track of medical bills, car repair bills, photos, video footage, and witness statements. The more evidence you have, the more likely you may be able to settle before a trial even needs to take place.

You Don’t Have to Do it Alone

Aside from having support from friends and family, your legal team will also be right by your side. Their job is to guide you from the initial claim for your medical expenses and other damages through discovery, deposition, mediation, and beyond. Whenever you have any questions or concerns about how the legal process works, you can rely on them to make sure you’re as well informed as possible.

Even though some insurance companies make it challenging to access the compensation you deserve, that doesn’t mean you aren’t able to get it at all. When negotiations break down, you can call upon a trial attorney to prepare you for court and work hard to get the outcome you deserve.

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