What to Expect at Each Stage of a Personal Injury Claim

When you decide to pursue a personal injury claim, it’s important to know what to expect and what your potential outcomes are. This protects you from unpleasant surprises and eases anxiety about the entire process. Whether your claim is the result of a car accident, dog bite, slip and fall, or other type of accident, this process is fairly straightforward.

Still looking for the right law firm to represent you in your personal injury claim? The team at The Dodd Law Firm is waiting to hear from you. Call us at 203-272-1883 to set up a consultation now.

Consulting With an Attorney

Your first step is to meet with a personal injury attorney and explain your accident and injuries. The good news is that most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means that not only is your initial consultation free, but you don’t pay anything unless the law firm secures a settlement or court award on your behalf. Their fees are then drawn from that final award, so you pay nothing out-of-pocket. 

During your consultation, the attorney will ask you questions, explain relevant parts of Connecticut law like the statute of limitations, and look over the evidence you brought in. If they think you have a strong case, they may give you the option to go forward with retaining them and beginning your personal injury claim.

Building Your Case

From there, your attorney jumps right in and starts investigating your claim. They may pull surveillance footage, talk to eyewitnesses, reach out to expert witnesses, and look at official documentation and reports. Their goal is to prove the other party’s liability, demonstrate the severity of your injuries, and prove that you deserve compensation. This step varies quite a bit in duration, depending on how complex your case is and how much evidence is available.

Connecting With the Insurance Company

The evidence your attorney gathers forms the foundation of your personal injury case. They will build a case on your behalf and proactively address any issues an insurance company is likely to have with your demand for compensation. The more prepared your attorney is prior to reaching out to the insurance company, the more successful negotiations generally are. 

Once they have built a case to their satisfaction, they will issue a demand letter to the insurance company. This letter outlines what they are asking for, why, and the evidence that backs it up. So begin negotiations—the insurance company will likely come back with their offer, and this repeats until a middle ground is found.

Reaching a Settlement—or Preparing for Court

In most personal injury claims, the final step is a settlement. While many people have strong mental images of dramatic courtroom showdowns, few cases reach the courtroom. If both parties come to an agreement on a settlement number, the attorneys will draw up the paperwork and have all involved parties sign it. 

You’ll waive your right to sue for your current injuries or any other injuries that arise as a result of the accident in question. The final settlement is then paid. Any care providers who need to be paid will get their cut; this includes hospitals and other medical service providers. Your attorney’s fee will be paid. Finally, you get your share of your settlement.

Unfortunately, not every personal injury claim is quite this easy. If the insurance company refuses to admit fault or won’t budge at all from their initial number, negotiations may fail. In that case, your attorney will move forward with filing a lawsuit and beginning court preparations. Your case may go to court, or a settlement may still be reached at any point during this process. If your case goes to court, a judge or jury will decide if the other party caused your injuries and if so, how much they must pay you.

Considering a Personal Injury Claim? Call The Dodd Law Firm Now

When you’re ready to learn more about your personal injury claim options, talking to the team at The Dodd Law Firm should be your next step. Set up your free consultation right away by calling us at 203-272-1883 or getting in touch with us online.