In part one of my continuing series of articles on "Why Should You Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer," I focused my discussion on 12 reasons why you should consider hiring an experienced Inland Empire personal injury lawyer. These reasons focused on general matters which occur prior to filing a lawsuit.
However, in this part of the series on why you should hire a Inland Empire personal injury lawyer, I want to focus on what the attorney does once the decision is made to file a lawsuit and take the case to trial.
Most cases will resolve at some point in time prior to a case going to trial. It is estimated that about 95% of all personal injury cases are resolved before they reach the jury or judge for a decision. Why do some cases resolve and others do not? There are many reasons for the difference.
Some of the Reasons Claims Do Not Settle
According to our Inland Empire personal injury lawyer, here are 5 common reasons some claims do not settle:
- The issues of liability are disputed
- The amount demanded is too high for the injuries or the amount offered is too low for the damages suffered
- The adjuster believes his or her client’s version of the story and refuses to compromise
- There is a question on the reasonableness and necessity of medical expenses
- The losses claimed appear to be unrelated to the accident
The insurance company has a policy sufficiently high that it does not fear exposure to their insured so it decides to fight the claim to "punish" the lawyer for bringing the claim even though it is a legitimate claim.
These are just a few reasons cases do not settle before having to file a lawsuit. Sometimes a lawsuit is the only way the parties, the insurance companies and their attorneys will ever resolve their differences.
Once it is decided that a lawsuit is necessary, what is it that a lawyer needs to do, or will have to face, in order to help you recover your damages and losses from the accident. Below is a sample list of the tasks a law office may go through as that law firm tries to get your case ready for trial or better prepared to settle your case.
This list is in no chronological order and many of these events can occur at any time or not occur at all. As you review this list you will begin to understand the complexity of a lawsuit and the need to have someone capable of navigating the very difficult legal process. Please do not rely upon this list as your guide if you are going to try and handle your case on your own.
An Example of Some of the Steps to be Taken to Move a Case From Filing to Trial
- Prepare Complaint
- Prepare a Statement of Damages
- Serve Complaint and Statement of Damages
- Respond to Demurrer, Motion to Strike or other objection to the Complaint
- Conduct Discovery
- Respond to Discovery
- Take and Attend Depositions
- Prepare and Respond to Requests for Production of Documents
- Prepare and Respond to Form Interrogatories and Special Interrogatories
- Prepare and Respond to Requests for Admission
- Have Client undergo a Medical Examination by an Expert Witness
- Conduct Investigations and Get Witness Information
- Secure Records and Photographs
- Investigate the Scene of the Accident
- File or Respond to Motions to Compel Discovery
- Attend Court Hearings on the Motions
- Explore and Conduct Alternative Dispute Resolution Alternatives
- Mediation
- Mandatory Settlement Conference
- Deposit Jury Fees
- Prepare Case Management Conference Statement
- Attend Case Management Conference
- Obtain Expert Witnesses
- Prepare or Respond to Motion for Summary Judgment
- Summary Judgment Hearing
- Attend an OSC re Mediation
- Motion to Amend Complaint or Answer
- Prepare and Serve Supplemental Discovery to the Parties in the Case
- Dismiss or Add Parties
- Coordinate a Medical Examination by the Defendant’s Doctor
- Update Trial Status/Evaluation/Budget
- Notify Clients of Trial
- Notify Experts of Trial
- Notify Witnesses of Trial
- Prepare for and Attend Final Status Conference
- Prepare CCP 998 Offer to Compromise
- Organize Evidence for Trial
- Witness Information
- Witness Depositions
- Organize Pleadings
- Statement of the Case
- Prepare Trial Brief
- Prepare a Request for Judicial Notice
- Prepare Trial Notebook
- Expert Depositions
- Site Inspection With Experts
- Prepare Motions in Limine
- Serve Subpoenas for Documents on Third Parties/Facilities
- Demand for Exchange of Experts/Documents
- Motion to Bifurcate/Sever Issues or Parties in a Case
- Prepare a Special Verdict Form
- Prepare and Serve a Notice to Attend Trial/Bring Documents
- Subpoenas for Witnesses to Appear at Trial
- Supplemental Expert Designation
- Meeting with Clients/Witnesses re Trial Preparation
- Meeting with Experts re Trial Preparation
- Trial Exhibits/Demonstrative Evidence
- Prepare Presentation for Trial
- Develop a Theme for Trial
- Voir Dire Outline (Questions for Jury Selection)
- Jury Instructions
- Jury Questionnaire
- Prepare Opening Statement
- Prepare Closing Argument
- Motion to Exclude Expert Witnesses
- Trial
Is That All? Not Even Close! Contact Our Inland Empire Personal Injury Lawyer
As you can see, there is a lot of work to do to manage a case from start to finish and only an experienced Inland Empire personal injury lawyer can make sure that no step is missed. This list does not even include the work done at trial. As the process continues, generally the costs and fees increase as well. The cost associated with a prolonged litigation is something that needs to be seriously considered in balancing the decision to settle or continue through trial. Since in most personal injury cases each side must pay for their own legal fees, and at times their own costs, the effort is made by the attorney to recover through settlement or trial an amount sufficiently large to pay all costs, fees, medical expenses and have funds available to properly compensate the injury victim for his or her pain and suffering and other financial losses. Sometimes it all works out so everyone is properly compensated and sometimes the insurance companies, their adjusters and the defendants are able to prevent proper compensation.
If you have a personal injury claim and you are wondering whether to hire an Inland Empire personal injury lawyer to handle the claim for you, look at that list above and decide if you have the knowledge and skill to handle each and every one of these possible events. If not, contact our firm online or call (909) 481-0100 to schedule a consultation and see if we can bring value to your case and a sense of relief to you knowing you have a knowledgeable Inland Empire personal injury lawyer fighting your battle for you.
