The Legal Process of Injury Cases
free consultation
PH: (702) 878-2889
Were you hurt in an accident? Don’t hesitate to call Oronoz & Ericsson, LLC for assistance. We will guide you through the personal injury legal process, answer all your questions, and provide regular updates.
You don’t need to figure out what to do. We know how to handle each step of the process in a way that improves your chance of receiving a fair settlement or court award. We have a history of success. Though we can’t guarantee a particular outcome, we’ve recovered millions for our clients.
To set up your free consultation, call (702) 878-2889 or contact us through our online form.
Are you worried about the personal injury claim process? Most people who are hurt in an accident haven’t had to deal with a serious injury claim or lawsuit before. Because it’s new, you might not be sure of your rights or options. You might not be confident in how to handle the insurance company or file a lawsuit. That’s why we are here to help.
At Oronoz & Ericsson Injury Lawyers, we have decades of combined legal experience. Not only have we been helping injury victims for years, but respected legal organizations have recognized our dedication and results. We are proven litigators who can get you the best possible outcome in your case.
Every personal injury claim starts with an accident, whether it’s a car crash, dog bite, work accident, or physical or sexual assault. When you realize you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s actions, you’re at the beginning of a legal journey. You should have a lawyer help you through it.
To have a valid claim, you must have evidence of your injuries. The best way to accumulate evidence of your physical, emotional, and financial injuries is to see a doctor right away. Follow the doctor’s care instructions and keep copies of your medical records and bills. Don’t hesitate to see a counselor if you’re suffering from mental or emotional repercussions. Mental health care is also important to your claim.
An accident caused you harm, and you’ve sought medical help. Now it’s time to seek legal help. It often helps to schedule some free consultations with personal injury law firms. You want to hire the right lawyer for you—someone experienced, successful, trustworthy, and compassionate. You can reach us at (702) 878-2889 or through our online form to request a free, no-risk consultation.
The immediate benefit of hiring an attorney is an independent investigation into the accident. You might be confident that you know what happened. Or, you might have been unconscious or have little memory of the accident. Whatever you think you know, your lawyer will gather all the evidence available, such as police reports, medical records and bills, photos, video, and witness statements. Your lawyer will look into what happened and why to identify the at-fault and liable parties.
Another benefit of partnering with an attorney is a thorough calculation of your physical, emotional, and financial injuries. We know not to overlook certain damages, like expenses related to getting medical care because of our experience. We also know not to over-estimate how much you might receive. We will add up all of your costs and losses and estimate the value of your non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. We’ll walk you through why we believe your case is worth a certain amount and the factors that might result in a higher or lower settlement or verdict.
Before we jump to filing a lawsuit, we’ll give the liable party a chance to make things right. We’ll send a demand for compensation. We lay out the facts: here’s what happened and why that party is liable. We explain your injuries. Then, we demand a certain amount of compensation and give the other party a certain period to respond. Sometimes, we can reach a settlement agreement without ever filing a lawsuit. However, it’s appropriate and helpful to file a lawsuit in many cases before negotiating a settlement.
We draft and file the complaint, which is the document that states you were hurt and have a legal claim against the other party or parties. They become the defendant(s), and you are the plaintiff. After filing the complaint, the law requires you to serve the defendants properly. We make sure they’re served and aware of the lawsuit.
The next step and the longest phase of litigation is discovery. During this time, each side demands information from the other. There are several legal tools we can use to gain more information, including depositions (an out-of-court interview), interrogatories (questions), requests for admissions (true/false statements), and requests for production of documents. We are highly experienced in tackling discovery and using legal methods of gaining as much information as possible from the other parties.
Once discovery is complete, we often enter into settlement negotiations. At this point, what happened is usually clear to both parties—though there may still be disputes. The other party or we might request mediation. This is an out-of-court process during which you and the defendant negotiate a resolution under a neutral third party’s guidance. If we can reach a fair agreement, then your case can end before going to trial.
Most people resolve their personal injury claims through pre-trial settlements. However, that isn’t always possible. We’ll be honest about when it benefits you to go to trial. If we plan on arguing your case before a jury, we’ll often prepare pre-trial motions. The judge can decide certain issues before trial. These decisions might be about witnesses, experts, and what evidence is admissible.
Before trial, we have to pick jurors. The jury selection process is called voir dire. During this process, each side asks potential jurors certain questions to see who is fit for the duty. Both lawyers have the right to reject a few potential jurors without cause. There’s no limit on rejecting jurors for cause. For example, a juror might be rejected for cause if they seem biased against the plaintiff or defendant or if they know anyone involved in the case.
Trial is a multi-step process that can take anywhere from a few hours to several days. It begins with submitting briefs to the judge. Our brief will outline our argument as to why you are entitled to compensation. The trial officially begins with each side offering their opening statements. It tells the jurors what to expect. Then, each side presents their case through witness testimony, cross-examination, and evidence. Finally, when each case has offered all their evidence, each side offers their closing arguments. The judge then gives the jury their instructions regarding what decision they are supposed to make and the legal standard they have to follow. The jury deliberates for however long it needs before returning a verdict.
If the jury returns a verdict in favor of the defendant, your case isn’t necessarily over. Talk with your personal injury lawyer right away about appealing. You have a brief window to file your notice of appeal.
You never have to go through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit on your own. It’s best if you have an experienced personal injury attorney represent you as early on as possible. To talk with us about how we can help you through this process, call (702) 878-2889 or submit your information through our online form.