The Decatur Car Accident Lawsuit Process

After a car accident, many people are uncertain about what they need to do, and they don’t know what should come first. This is one reason it can be very helpful to consult an experienced personal injury lawyer at Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC right after the accident. Each situation is unique, of course, but there are some common features and required tasks that we can help you prepare for so you understand what to expect.

Whether your case settles early on or proceeds all the way to trial, the steps taken in the early days are often the most critical. The evidence collected right after the accident and the statements made to insurance companies have a tremendous impact on the outcome of your case. So while many people want to avoid thinking about legal recovery until after they have finished their physical recovery, that is not the most effective way to reach a favorable outcome. Instead, it is wise to start working with a Decatur car accident lawyer quickly and allow your legal team to focus on liability while you focus on rebuilding your life.

General Timeline of an Accident Case

While the details vary in each case, here’s a general timeline of a legal claim after a motor vehicle accident:

• The accident occurs, causing injuries.
• The injured person gets a thorough medical exam and follows instructions for treatment and follow-up care.
• The injured person consults a Decatur car accident lawyer for advice and a case evaluation. If they feel like they can work together, they enter an agreement. If it’s not a good fit, the injured person interviews another attorney until they find a legal advocate who is prepared to provide the right service.
• The legal team and the client collect evidence regarding the cause of the accident. This could include taking photos, interviewing witnesses, collecting police reports, and subpoenaing video footage from traffic and security cameras.
• The client continues to receive medical care and follow instructions to work toward recovery.
• The legal team analyzes evidence, continues to seek additional evidence, and consults experts if necessary.
• The client continues to rebuild their health until the doctor says the maximum level of recovery has been reached.
• The Decatur car accident lawyer works to calculate the value of all losses suffered by the client, including the value of intangible harm such as pain and suffering and funds needed for future care and to offset any decrease in their ability to work.
• The legal team sends a demand letter to the insurance company of the person at fault for the accident.

The next steps depend on the response of the insurance company. If the company agrees with the requests and agrees to provide reasonable compensation, the attorney can draw up a settlement agreement, and the client can receive compensation fairly quickly. However, most of the time, the insurance company initially offers an amount that is far too low to meet the client’s needs.

At that point, when the team at Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC is handling the case, we will be prepared to demonstrate the evidence supporting our arguments so that the insurance company will see that we have a good case to take to court if necessary. This is usually enough to prompt a reasonable settlement. However, sometimes insurance companies are stubborn. If they still refuse to provide an adequate amount, the client will have the option to accept the offer, but we will be prepared to let a judge or jury decide in court.

Find Out How the Process Could Work in Your Case

Evidence, injuries, and the circumstances of an accident are different in each case, and that will make the process different, too. If you would like to find out more about how the process could work in your case, just contact us online or call 404-480-4284 for a free consultation with a knowledgeable Decatur car accident lawyer.