Steps Followed In A Truck Accident Lawsuit.
Truck accident lawsuits can be quite complex; they are not the usual accident lawsuits that one sees every day. They have their complexities due to the many trucking laws and regulations that are there. The time after such an accident can be quite challenging as one may be dealing with injuries, insurance companies, and also trying to know what will happen next. It is advised for one to hire experienced truck accident lawyers to help them out with these issues. They will deal with all the legal aspects of the case and make life more stress-free for you. Below is a guide on what these cases entail.
What Happens During A Truck Accident Lawsuit?
There are many litigations steps in these cases that are critical to the outcome, as seen below.
The attorney you choose will conduct a thorough assessment of the case to see if it holds water. They will want to know all the details of the accident based on the evidence, the damages suffered, negligence of the other party, medical expenses, and any future health care you may need. Based on the facts, they will tell you what options you have and the next steps to take.
• Investigation.
Once the case is valid and the attorney is sure that it qualifies to take further, then they will conduct a thorough investigation of what happened. The insurance company will also be doing one so that they gather enough evidence for court. The negligent party will also be notified of the claim being made and the evidence that should be preserved.
• Lawsuit Filing And Discovery.
The official lawsuit will then be filed against the negligent parties. After this, the attorney will continue with discovery, in which they will send requests for any information that is crucial to the case such as depositions, interrogatories, and expert consultations. The witnesses will also be talked to in this step.
• Mediation.
Majority of the time, both parties; the defendants and the truck accident victims will agree to mediation to see if a fair settlement can be reached. A neutral third party will lead the meeting to negotiate a settlement, instead of going to court.
• Trial.
If no settlement is reached, both parties will then proceed with the case to trial. A date will be set, and a jury or judge will hear the case. The accident attorney will present all the supportive evidence needed, and the defendant’s testimony will follow. After all the closing arguments are made, the jury or judge will determine who is at fault and the compensations to be paid.
Once you find yourself in a truck accident, the first thing to do is to hire a competent accident lawyer to help you out. They will advise you on the way forward and try to prevent it from going to court since the process is long and tiresome. However, if that is not possible, they will represent you in court and ensure that they serve your interests.