The Stages Of A Personal Injury Case

The Process: Personal Injury Litigation Steps

An accident that occurs in only a fraction of a second has the power to change everything. It can be difficult to move forward after an accident has changed your life, but the experienced attorneys at The Law Offices of Tyler & Peery can guide you through the process. Four of the lawyers at our San Antonio, Texas, law firm are personal injury specialists certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. We are experienced advocates who have helped thousands of people through the stages of a personal injury case, helping them achieve the best possible outcomes.

Stage #1: Choosing An Attorney

After leaving the scene of the accident and receiving the appropriate medical care, the first step towards filing a personal injury lawsuit is meeting with an attorney. Some people do this immediately. Others wait weeks, months or even years to begin.

If you are considering talking with a lawyer about your personal injury, contact one sooner rather than later. Texas recognizes a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury cases, which means that lawsuits cannot be filed more than two years after the accident. There are a few rare exceptions to this.

There are several things you should consider when choosing an attorney. Picking a Board-Certified Personal Injury is a wise approach because these lawyers – experienced professionals who have been certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization – have undergone rigorous testing and professional critique. They are judged to be well qualified for even the most complex cases.

Your lawyer’s location should also be considered. If you were injured in south Texas or south-central Texas, or if the potential defendant resides in the area, your interests will be best served by an attorney who knows the local courts. At The Law Offices of Tyler & Peery, we have been practicing law in Texas courts for years. We know how to tell your story so that the people here will listen and understand.

Stage #2: Investigation

Even before any legal documents are filed, we will begin investigating your claim. We may even start in your free initial consultation, where we’ll talk about the facts of your case. What happened? Who was involved? Were there any witnesses?

We take this information and we do a larger search. We will visit the scene of the accident and photograph any skid marks or debris. We will locate and interview witnesses while their memories are still fresh. And we will record the damage to your car before you have repairs made.

Part of our investigation involves gathering your medical information. We may have your records collected and make sure that you are getting the proper treatment necessary to make a full and complete recovery. We wait until you have made the maximum medical improvement possible before filing a personal injury lawsuit.

We also hire the requisite number of experts to present your claim in most persuasive light possible. These experts include economists, life care planners, impairment rating experts, and accident reconstructionists.

Stage #3: Filing The Lawsuit

It is only after we have conducted extensive investigation and are completely ready to proceed that we file your personal injury lawsuit in Texas state or federal courts. Texas law requires that certain documents be filed with the court and served on the other parties involved. Filing the lawsuit puts the people who caused your accident – the defendants – on official notice that they are being sued.

Stage #4: Discovery

Once the lawsuit has been initiated, a formal investigation process is allowed. This process is called “discovery.” Discovery may involve lawyers for both the plaintiffs and defendants taking depositions – asking the parties involved formal questions under oath.

Stage #5: Negotiation And Settlement

Settlement and negotiation can occur at any point during the stages of a personal injury case. Whether it occurs just after the lawsuit was filed with the court or moments before trial, settlement is a way of resolving matters so that you have control over the outcome.

Settlement is actually the most common way of ending a personal injury lawsuit. More than 95% of cases settle before reaching the courtroom. While we will offer you advice about whether or not a settlement offer is a good one, the final decision whether to accept or reject a settlement is always yours.

Stage #6: Trial

If settlement offers are unacceptable, trial is often the final stage of a personal injury case. Cases that go to trial tend to be ones that are not clear-cut. Often, there are disagreements about who was at fault, or each side will strongly disagree about proper damages. In personal injury trials, the jury makes the final decision about who was at fault and how much money to award the personal injury victim.

To learn more about the stages of a personal injury case, call us at 210-340-0900 or complete our injury intake form.