If you’ve been involved in an accident that injured you or another person, you might find yourself having to deal with a personal injury case. You might appreciate an overview of the process so that you’ll have an idea of what to expect.

What Happens During a Personal Injury Case

When you’re involved in an accident, someone is responsible for your injury. Personal injury cases help parties determine who was at fault and how much should be awarded in damages to the injured person, if anything. As with most other legal matters, it’s recommended that you seek the assistance of a personal injury attorney who can assist you throughout the process. Regardless of whether you choose to enter the courtroom solo or with a legal representative on your side, it’s important that you understand what to expect.

Personal Injury Claim

First, a personal injury claim will need to be filed. Although you might have insurance that will cover the cost of some, if not all, of your medical bills, you might also need or want to seek reimbursement for lost wages, emotional distress and other damages. A professional can assist you in the process of filing a claim and submitting the appropriate evidence to back up your statements.

Settlement

In most cases, insurance companies and defendants will attempt to come to settlement with the claimant to avoid the high cost of litigation in court. If you have a lawyer to represent you, he or she might be able to negotiate you a more favorable settlement than you would have been offered on your own. If you decide to settle, you won’t have to go to trial in court, and you might receive money sooner.

Court

Although many personal injury cases are settled outside the courtroom, this isn’t always the case. If your claim goes to trial, witnesses could be called to the stand, and you may be called to account the details of the event. If your case does go to court, the amount of time that it takes it to get settled varies.