car accident San Antonio Personal Injury LawyerAlthough each personal injury claim is unique, your San Antonio personal injury lawyer can explain that each case proceeds through three primary stages. However, there is no clear-cut delineation in these phases but more often than not an overlapping of activities as your case heads towards a resolution.

Investigation

A preliminary investigation will begin prior to your San Antonio personal injury lawyer accepting the case; he or she will need to be convinced of the merit of your claim. Once officially retained, your counsel will learn as much about the facts of the case as possible. Among the possibilities based on the circumstances are:

  • Visiting the scene of the accident and recreating, to the extent possible, the incident
  • Reviewing police reports
  • Reviewing witness statements
  • Interviewing witnesses
  • Reviewing any statement you may have given
  • Reviewing your medical record

Negotiation

The person or entity that you claim is responsible for your injuries will likely turn the matter over to an insurance company, and your counsel will open discussions with the insurer’s claims adjuster. It is your lawyer’s job to provide the adjuster with a complete and accurate report of the full extent of your injuries, the value of the time you lost from work and any other loss you sustained directly related to the accident. An experienced lawyer will know how to handle typical tactics by insurers to deny, delay and otherwise push for a low-ball settlement and instead strive to arrive at a fair settlement.

Litigation

Few cases are actually litigated, but sometimes there is no other alternative. This is why it is important to have representation that is comfortable, well-prepared and able to successfully litigate a case; many personal injury lawyers have little trial experience. If your case does go to trial, you, the plaintiff, will be an important factor in the ultimate result. Your lawyer will prepare you to provide your evidence in a manner that establishes the greatest likelihood of success.

Contact a San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer for Legal Advice

Understanding the process through which a personal injury case evolves can be difficult; for questions on any stage of the proceedings, call Brylak Law, a San Antonio personal injury lawyer, at (210) 372-8111.