Every accident that involves a moving car has the potential to cause serious injuries. Regardless of whether you were walking, driving or riding a bicycle, a minor impact can result in severe injuries or even the death of a loved one.
What follows is a heavy financial burden as you try to get your life back on track. If unprepared, or your insurance company fails to compensate you, you may end up accumulating substantial amounts of debt. When in such a situation, your only hope may be in filing a car accident claim for compensation.
Don’t risk making mistakes by doing it alone. Instead, hire a car accident lawyer in League City for help.
Why You Should Hire a Lawyer
Unfortunately, filing a car accident case in League City isn’t as easy as it may sound, especially for an average citizen. There’s so much work needed when proving liability, negotiating with insurance companies, and successfully filing a claim in court.
Sadly, you may not have the capacity to do all these on your own, especially when you have to juggle between working on your case and following up with the treatment for your injuries.
How a Lawyer Can Help
To successfully file a claim and recover damages, you need to understand how different laws apply in your case. You must also understand how the legal process works, including what papers to file when, where, and why.
League City liability laws require a lot of time to study and comprehend, and as expected, you lack this time. And even when given the opportunity to learn and understand, there’s always a statute of limitations barring you from filing a car accident case after the lapse of the two-year limit.
So, what can you do to protect your legal rights? Well, a qualified League City personal injury lawyer can guide you through the process and act as your legal representative.
Understanding the Car Accident Lawsuit Process
A car accident lawsuit is a formal legal action or process which takes place when an injured party, normally referred to as the plaintiff, brings their case in court for consideration and compensation. The defendant in this case is often the party deemed to have been at fault for the accident that resulted in the plaintiff’s injuries or damages.
If you decide to file a car accident case in League City, these are the steps you are required to take:
Filing a Formal Complaint
Also known as a petition, a complaint is a legal document presented to a civil court setting about what happened in an accident, damages suffered, as well as the legal basis on which the case is filed. A car accident case is assumed to have officially begun after the complaint is filed.
Serving the Petition/Complaint to the Defendant
Under the United States legal system, every subject of a legal proceeding has the right to learn about the charges made against them. This allows the defendant to make a case defending themselves or giving their side of the story.
Informing the defendant about the case means you serve them with a similar petition with that made to the court. These petitions must be served within the stipulated guidelines as per the state you intend to file your case.
Normally, the plaintiff has up to 30 days to serve the defendant with notice of petition. But in case they are difficult to track down, the deadline may be extended.
The Defendant Files an Answer
While filing an answer, the defendant seeks to admit or deny liability or claims made against them. It’s also in this phase that the defendant mounts any legal defense against the claims set out in the petition.
Discovery
After filing the petition and getting an answer from the defendant, the next process becomes more complex as both parties exchange information through discovery. The sole purpose of this phase is to allow both parties to understand more facts about the case, allowing them to build evidence.
In most cases, this process also includes interrogatories, depositions, as well as requests and exchange of documents.
Trial
After the discovery phase is complete, both sides will have gathered enough information to present their case before the jury or judge.
During the trial, each side will make opening statements, provide oral and written testimonies, interview witnesses, and make closing statements. At the tail end of the trial, the jury or judge will make a final judgment in favor of the defendant or the plaintiff.
If the ruling favors the plaintiff, he or she is awarded a settlement, and the case is closed. If against him or her, there’s still a window for an appeal.
We Can Help You File a Car Accident Case in League City
Retaining a car accident lawyer is the best way to deal with a personal injury case involving a car crash. Our lawyers at Lone Star Injury Attorneys are qualified and experienced in handling different car accident cases.
We will walk with you every step of the way to help you recover maximum damages. Check out our firm today!
Call or text (832) 346-9585 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
